Australian court makes decision on Kurtley Beale bail conditions
Suspended Wallabies full-back Kurtley Beale has had bail conditions varied for him to potentially play rugby in France as he awaits trial on sexual assault allegations. The 34-year-old made a bid to vary his bail conditions on Tuesday after he pleaded not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of sexual touching in July.
The application was unsuccessfully opposed by NSW prosecutors, who say no playing contract has been tabled and there would be no oversight or ability to enforce Beale’s compliance with his bail conditions outside the state.
Beale allegedly sexually assaulted a 28-year-old woman at the Beach Road Hotel near Bondi Beach in December. The allegations against Beale are a “pretty classic case”, his barrister Margaret Cunneen SC said on Tuesday.
Beale is in negotiations to resume his rugby union career overseas, she said, but cannot enter into any contracts without the return of his passport.
“Several offers from French clubs have been made,” she said.
Beale would not leave the country until a contract was signed but needed his bail varied for that to happen, she said.
Varying Beale’s bail would allow him to leave the jurisdiction while facing very serious sexual assault allegations, crown prosecutor Darren Robinson said. While confident Beale would return for his trial in the NSW District Court in January, Mr Robinson warned anything could happen to prevent him from returning to Sydney when needed.
“When a person leaves the jurisdiction, this court has no control potentially over that person… there are a number of things that can happen if a person leaves the jurisdiction,” he said. Mr Robinson suggested Beale could be injured or end up in hospital, preventing him from returning to Sydney when needed.
Ms Cunneen said there was similarly a chance Beale could be hospitalised if his bail was not varied to allow him to resume his career as a professional athlete. “There is more likelihood of Mr Beale ending up in a mental hospital if he is unable to get some structure back in his life,” she said.
The court heard Beale had been experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. Mr Robinson told the court a condition Beale abstain from alcohol would be unenforceable in a foreign country.
“There appears to be no dispute Mr Beale was heavily intoxicated in the hours leading up to and during the commission of the alleged offences,” he said.
Beale will get his passport back if he shows the police officer-in-charge of the investigation proof of a playing offer, Judge Antony Townsden ruled on Tuesday afternoon.
He will need to be back in NSW before the end of 2023 and surrender his passport again within 24 hours of returning. A $50,000 surety will also be required 48 hours before he leaves, with police to be informed of his travel itinerary and where he will reside.
Beale sat behind his lawyers wearing a blue-checked suit and socks embroidered with Wallabies, and did not comment as he exited the Downing Centre courthouse in Sydney’s CBD.
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments