Portugal Colonial - Australian former rugby star Hayne has sex assault conviction quashed

The 36-year-old, best known outside Australia for a brief career in America's NFL, was jailed in May last year for four years and nine months after being found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in 2018.

He consistently denied the allegation and in a split decision the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal overturned the conviction.

His appeal succeeded on the grounds that a judge erred in prohibiting further cross-examination during the trial, according to the decision.

The court also cited a ruling to the jury about how to treat allegations that the woman lied.

It is now up to the Director of Public Prosecutions to decide whether he should be tried for a fourth time.

Hayne's first trial ended with a hung jury. He was convicted in a second trial in 2021 and sentenced to a maximum of five years and nine months.

That was overturned on appeal in 2022, leading to a third trial.

Hayne, a former Parramatta Eels star, was the National Rugby League's player of the year in 2009 and 2014.

He was capped 12 times by Australia and four times by Fiji, where his father comes from, as well as representing Fiji in rugby sevens.

Hayne attempted a career in the NFL in 2015 as a kick returner and running back, but experienced only fleeting success during a tough first season with the San Francisco 49ers.

He played eight times, making 79 yards and scoring no touchdowns.

T.Vitorino--PC