De Belin facing more time on sidelines as trial may be delayed until August
Angus Thompson and
Sam Phillips
February 7, 2020 — 9.01pm
Banned NRL player Jack de Belin's rape trial may now be delayed until August, dashing the St George Illawarra Dragons forward's prospects of finalising the matter before the 2020 season begins.
De Belin and Shellharbour Sharks player Callan Sinclair were due to begin a two-week trial on February 3 over allegations the pair sexually assaulted a 19-year-old woman in a Wollongong apartment in December 2018.
Jack de Belin (left) leaves Wollongong Court during a break in his case this week.CREDIT:KATE GERAGHTY
Both men, who are on conditional bail, have pleaded not guilty to five charges of aggravated sexual assault.
A jury was set to be empanelled on Monday before Wollongong District Court judge Andrew Haesler pushed back the start of the trial to hear a series of complex and sensitive legal arguments, requiring the courtroom to be closed to the public over multiple days.
On the fourth day of pre-trial proceedings, the nature of which cannot be legally disclosed, Judge Haesler said, "unless something extraordinary happens we are not going to be running the trial next week."
He said the next available date for the trial wasn't until August.
The date of the trial had previously been brought forward from March 2, with acting judge Paul Conlon saying in September it was important to have the trial begin as early as possible for all parties concerned.
Judge Haesler repeated the sentiment this week.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw...-be-delayed-until-august-20200207-p53ypn.html