FORMER NRL star Jarryd Hayne stood in Newcastle District Court on Thursday and twice answered "not guilty" to allegations he sexually assaulted a woman at a suburb in Newcastle on grand final night last year.
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For Hayne, 31, who through his legal representatives had long ago made clear he intended to fight the charges, it was the first words he had publicly spoken about the case.
And then, while walking from Newcastle courthouse a short time later, Hayne uttered a few more, stopping briefly to address the gathered media and make a strong denial.
"I want to make it very clear I am innocent of these charges," Hayne said. "It's been a very hard time on the family. "But the 4th of May, 2020.... justice will be served."
That date refers to what will be the first day of Hayne's estimated week-long trial in Newcastle District Court.
Hayne will remain on bail until then and, on Thursday, had his conditions varied to report only one day a week to police in East Perth, where he is living and training with an evangelical Christian ministry organisation, Youth With A Mission.
His solicitor, Leo Premutico, was also successful in having Hayne excused from attending court until the callover date in April, 2020.
Hayne is accused of sexually assaulting a 26-year-old woman at a suburb in Newcastle between 8pm and 10pm on September 30, 2018.
Court documents state Hayne had sex with the woman without her consent and "recklessly inflicted actual bodily harm".
The aggravated rape charges each carry a maximum 20-year jail term if Hayne is convicted.
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