Legal argument in the trial of sidelined St George Illawarra Dragons star Jack de Belin is set to enter its second week on Monday in a move expected to further delay a start date.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
De Belin and his co-accused, Shellharbour Sharks player Callan Sinclair, have spent every day sitting in Wollongong District Court this week as their respective legal teams engage in a back-and-forth with prosecutors over key legal issues that need to be resolved before their joint trial can begin.
The court has been closed to the public and the media for much of the debate and details of what has been discussed in open court so far cannot be published for significant legal reasons.
A jury is yet to be empanelled in the case.
De Belin and Sinclair stand accused of sexually assaulting a young woman inside a North Wollongong unit block during a night out in December 2018.
They have each pleaded not guilty to four counts of aggravated sexual assault in company and one count of aggravated sexual assault in company inflicting actual bodily harm.
Meanwhile, Sinclair's parents have been in court each day to support their son, as have extended members of his family.
De Belin was supported by his manager Steve Gillis at the beginning of the trial.
Ex-Dragons captain Craig Young and outgoing Dragons CEO Brian Johnston also turned up earlier in the week to offer their support.
Both men remain on conditional bail.
