Jarryd Hayne walks free from jail, will potentially face retrial in October

Former footballer Jarryd Hayne has walked free from jail after his convictions were quashed and he was granted bail on two charges of sexual intercourse without consent.

Mr Hayne, 34, was previously jailed for at least three years and eight months over the incident in Newcastle in September 2018 where he allegedly assaulted a 26-year-old woman with his hands and mouth and left her bleeding from the genitals.

His convictions were quashed on Monday, with the Court of Criminal Appeal ordering a retrial. The court found there had been an error with directions given to the jury, and an error in a pre-trial ruling on evidence.

On Tuesday, NSW District Court Judge Chris O’Brien granted Mr Hayne bail with strict conditions, including being of good behaviour, residing with his wife at an address in Sydney’s west, reporting to police three times a week, and not entering the Newcastle local government area.

Mr Hayne must also pay a $20,000 surety within seven days, not apply for a passport, not go within 500 metres of any international points of departure, and not contact the complainant in the case in any way, including through a third party, or encourage others to do so.

Appearing from Cooma Correctional Centre, wearing a T-shirt in prison green, Mr Hayne responded “yep” when asked if he understood.

Mr Hayne grinned but remained silent when he walked from prison several hours later and was greeted by waiting news cameras, on his first day on the outside after more than nine months.

He wore a grey polo shirt and toted his belongings in a plastic Aldi bag and a cardboard box, the latter of which was passed to a friend who met him at the prison door and gave him a hug. Mr Hayne was then expected to travel home to meet his second child, who was born while he was in custody.