Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne has failed in his bid to have his third sexual assault trial moved to Newcastle and hired one of the state's most high-profile barristers to defend him.
The District Court heard the ex-Parramatta Eels player had not given sufficient reasons for his application to move the trial from Sydney to Newcastle, where there was less trial availability.
Mr Hayne is accused of sexually assaulting a then-26-year-old woman at her Newcastle home on the night of the 2018 NRL grand final.
Mr Hayne has always claimed the sexual encounter was consensual but the complainant has given evidence she was "shocked and scared" and was left with injuries to her genitals.
The first trial for two counts of sexual intercourse without consent was held in Newcastle in 2020 and ended in a hung jury.
Mr Hayne was convicted at his second trial, which was held in Sydney, but he successfully appealed the decision on grounds that the trial judge had erred in her directions.
In February this year, the Court of Criminal Appeal quashed the former footballer's convictions and ordered a retrial.
Mr Hayne was soon released on bail after serving nine months at Cooma Correctional Centre.
The 34-year-old then applied to move his third trial from Sydney to Newcastle but was today refused for reasons that were suppressed by Judge James Bennett.
Judge Bennett said Mr Hayne "simply wants his trial to be conducted in Newcastle" but his reasons had not been qualified or explained.
The Crown opposed the application for change of venue and argued holding the trial in Newcastle could impact the alleged victim.
The trial, which is estimated to last up to three weeks, has been set down for March 6 next year.
There was availability in November 2022 and February 2023 but Mr Hayne's new barrister, Margaret Cunneen SC, was not available for those dates.
Ms Cunneen was a Deputy Senior Crown Prosecutor for many years and prosecuted a number of paedophiles and the notorious Scaf gang rapists.
She has a long reputation for championing victims of violent crime but in 2019 became a criminal defence barrister.
