Nervous-looking Jarryd Hayne frantically runs errands with his wife in what may be his last hours of freedom – as prosecutors demand he be jailed for rape tomorrow
- Jury found Jarryd Hayne guilty of rape last week
- Prosecutors ask that he be locked up tomorrow
Disgraced NRL star Jarryd Hayne has been seen with his wife spending his last hours at liberty before prosecutors seek to jail him tomorrow for his rape crimes.
The 35-year-old ex-footballer was seen around lunchtime on Thursday at a Merrylands shopping center in western Sydney, close to the police station where he has been reporting since his bail was extended last week.
Dressed in a green hoodie, cap and sweatpants, Hayne was carrying his youngest child, while his wife Amellia Bonnici looked relaxed in jeans and a yellow t-shirt while carrying a small white plastic bag and wallet.
Last Friday, NSW District Court Judge Graham Turnbull SC allowed Hayne to stay on bail to help sort his family before his fate is sealed on May 8.
However, the director of the Public Prosecution Service this week asked a higher court to reverse the ruling and put him behind bars.
Hayne faces Supreme Court Justice Richard Button again on Friday to send the Dally M winner to jail.
Disgraced NRL star Jarryd Hayne (above) out with his wife and children spending his last hours of freedom before prosecutors hold a hearing tomorrow to immediately jail him for his rape crimes
Jarryd Hayne’s wife, wife Amellia Bonnici, looked relaxed Thursday in jeans and a yellow T-shirt while carrying a small white plastic bag and wallet as she possibly spent her final hours with her husband
A jury found Hayne guilty last week in his third trial for sexual assault.
Judge Turnbull agreed with Hayne’s counsel Margaret Cunneen SC that ‘who he is and what surrounds him’ has made him ‘particularly vulnerable in the circumstances’.
He grabbed Mrs. Bonnici’s hand as he was escorted out of court by seven sheriffs.
Ms Cunneen told the court that Hayne was ‘too high profile’ to be sent to prison amid huge media scrutiny.
“It’s something that is an exceptional case and has created an exceptional circumstance,” he said.
“I am of the opinion that they are sufficient to warrant a rejection of the detention request.”
The court heard that he had received hundreds of threats in the days after he was found guilty again.
“Should lock him up with some guys and teach him what it’s like to ignore your permission,” one threat read.
“You’re the lowest of the low, you don’t deserve any sympathy,” said another.
Another read, “Big bubba is waiting.”
Jarryd Hayne is pictured with his wife, Amellia Bonnici, outside the Downing Center in Sydney last week
Judge Turnbull said there was evidence that Hayne had been “maligned” in the public arena, as he expected the star to be taken into custody at a later date.
He told the court there was “no doubt” Hayne would go to jail if convicted next month.
Ms Cunneen told the court Hayne’s young family endured large amounts of ‘vitriol’ following the verdict.
She argued that Hayne should not be taken into custody because he is too high profile.
“This is an exceptional case, there wouldn’t be such a huge press contingent in the courtroom if there wasn’t something exceptional about this case, but that has increased the relentless media pressure on this very young family,” she said. Cunneen said.
“The fact (is) that this family can’t even walk out of their homes without the pressure of the press.”
Hayne’s wife Amellia Bonnici (pictured together) wept in court as the guilty verdict was handed down
The court heard that Hayne had previously been targeted while in custody, meaning he should be protected, with the decision to release him on bail based on the circumstances he would now face, rather than what would await him if convicted.
Ms Cunneen said Hayne is ‘much more susceptible’ to attacks while in custody because the ‘intensity of publicity’ is greater than ever.
“The visceral response is totally out of proportion to the relative severity of the circumstances in this case,” she said.
“Mr. Hayne is being treated like the most evil and serious sex offender the world has ever seen.”