In the nick of time, a rugby league footballer, Jack de Belin, went from being the St. George Illawarra’s ace to an attendee of a rape trial. During the Christmas revelry, de Belin and Callan Sinclair encountered a young girl of 19 years at a Wollongong bar and ended up breaking news of rape allegations.
The NRL couldn’t keep the duo – de Belin and Callan Sinclair – when they decided to go for one more dance-floor move, which eventually led them to the criminal trial.
What’s the recent update on Jack de Belin’s rape allegation trial? Keep reading; we have covered it all!
Update on Jack de Belin’s Rape Allegation
In December 2018, de Belin went partying with his mates amidst the Christmas celebration, where he met a 19-years-old girl on a dance floor. They went again for another dance-floor decision, but they ended up in an apartment, and the next day, the woman told off her colleagues that she had been raped. As a result, the Australian Rugby League Commission listed de Belin under its “no-fault stand-down” policy.
On 28 May 2019, de berlin was charged with two further counts of sexual assault. Having been charged with five counts of rape, he was committed to stand trial over allegations of sexual assault.
For months, the case was embroiled in delays due to the pre-trial hearings, a key witness falling ill and the COVID-19 pandemic. His trial was delayed further on 30 November 2020 after the jury failed to reach a verdict. After lengthy deliberations, all the sexual allegations charges against de Berlin were dropped on 27 May 2021.
Return to Football
Jack de Berlin signed a new four-year contract with St. George Illawarra after the charges against him were dropped in May 2021. On 28 May, the NRL announced that it had registered de Berlin’s playing contract.
On 29 May 2021, de Berlin played for Illawarra’s NSW Cup side against Western Suburbs. Two days later, he was named to play his returning first-grade match on 3 June 2021, which turned to be a 52-24 victory over Brisbane at Kogarah Oval.
His Partner was Pregnant During His Sex Assault Trial
de Berlin’s long-time partner, Alyce Taylor, was pregnant with their first child, daughter Billie Maree, at the time when the NRL star was charged with sexual allegations.
However, Taylor stood by de Belin’s side whenever he headed for criminal proceedings. She went through two years of hell that included two trials for sexual assault charges and de Belin’s admission that he cheated on her.
In late May 2021, during the first match of de Belin after his return to the sport, he walked off the field into the arms of his partner Alyce Taylor, who was carrying their newborn child in a sling.
The Belin family was Upset
30-year-old Jack de Belin was born on 17 March 1991 in Cootamundra, New South Wales, Australia. His grandfather, Fred de Belin, played for the Balmain Tigers. Also, his uncle, Alan de Belin, bagged the bronze medal at the 1977 World Rowing Championships. No wonder de Belin emerged as an unstoppable talent on the St. George Illawarra Dragons since 2011.
de Belin shares a close bond with his sister, Erica. She even helped him in conveying the devastating news to the entire ‘Belin’ family. Moreover, she reminded the Dragons’ star of his parents and girlfriend’s worrisome state when de Belin levelled against the allegation charges. She said:
“I just spoke to Mum and Dad and their reaction was how you thought it would be, they’re pretty devastated.”
Erica thought of it as the wake-up call for his brother, come what may. In response, de Belin told:
“It’s really given me a kick up the ass and maybe I’ll go see someone as well.”
