Accused rugby player tells trial he asked woman to keep assault 'quiet'
Two men on trial for sexually assaulting an 18-year-old say different things about whether she consented.
Hayden Charles Topliss, 37, and Ryan Matthew Hawkshaw stand trial in Newcastle District Court on charges of sexually assaulting an 18-year-old woman on April 22, 2023. Prosecutors allege the men forced her into a threesome despite her repeated requests to stop.
Topliss and Hawkshaw have pleaded not guilty. Topliss testified he assumed the woman consented because Hawkshaw called him into the bedroom.
He said he never asked her directly if she wanted a threesome. The court heard Topliss sent Hawkshaw a message later that morning asking if he knew the woman and whether she'd 'keep it quiet'.
Topliss told the court he sent that message entirely because he didn't want his girlfriend to find out, not because he feared he'd done anything seriously wrong. Prosecutors allege Topliss entered the room naked and he and Hawkshaw performed sexual acts without the woman's consent.
Topliss denies all allegations of force or non-consent.
- Hayden Topliss, 37
- Defendant age
- Newcastle District Court
- Court venue
- April 22, 2023
- Date of incident
- 18-year-old woman
- Victim age
Why it mattersThe trial outcome will test how courts evaluate consent claims when a defendant claims assumption rather than explicit agreement.
AustraliaThis Newcastle court case reflects ongoing tensions in how Australian courts assess sexual assault allegations involving disputed consent.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 d ago
