The option of returning majority verdicts is on the table for the jury in the retrial of NRL footballer Jack de Belin.
The St George Illawarra forward, 30, and Callan Sinclair, 24, have each pleaded not guilty to five counts alleging they sexually assaulted a woman in a North Wollongong unit in December 2018.
After a week of deliberations, the Sydney District Court jury said it didn’t believe there was “any possibility” of unanimous verdicts for the first four charges against each accused.
“Definitely not, Your Honour,” the jury foreperson replied to a question about unanimous verdicts being reached with further deliberations.
After hearing that and reading each juror was “firm and resolute” in their own verdicts, Judge Nicole Noman on Monday afternoon asked them to consider if any verdicts could be reached 11-to-1.
Earlier on Monday, the jury said it had reached a unanimous verdict on the final charge against each man but were divided on all others.
That final charge relates to an allegation de Belin anally raped the then-19-year-old while Sinclair was in an adjacent room.
The footballer testified the action behind the charge was accidental and he apologised soon after.
Judge Noman said she wouldn’t take that unanimous verdict yet, asking jurors to continue their deliberations on the other charges.
Over a 13-day trial, the jury heard allegations de Belin attacked the woman in the bedroom of a North Wollongong unit after using the bathroom.
She said she told the men to stop and then “just let it happen”, crying as the men “took turns”.
The men both testified the sexual encounter was consensual, with the woman acting “normal” and appearing to enjoy it.
-AP
