The sexual assault case against St George Illawarra Dragons forward Jack de Belin is due to return to the courtroom on Monday, but those hoping for a quick resolution could well be disappointed.
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Some wide-eyed commentators have suggested in recent days that the case against the sidelined star and his co-accused, Callan Sinclair, could be resolved one way or another this week, even as early as Monday itself.
Possible yes, but unlikely.
Let's take a step back and recap what has occurred so far.
Jurors were expected to be sworn in on the first Monday in February for an estimated two-week trial, but those plans ground to a halt when lawyers for both men raised significant legal complications in the case.
So began two weeks of intensive pre-trial legal argument (most of which has been done behind closed doors, such is the legal significance of what is being discussed).
The case was further delayed when a key witness fell ill mid-way through the second week, then again when COVID-19 hit and forced the scheduled April hearing dates to be abandoned.
So what do we expect will happen on Monday? Not much that we can tell you about.
The pre-trial legal discussion is set to continue. An entire week has been set aside to hear the arguments and the court will remain closed to the public and the media while that occurs.
At the end of those proceedings, Judge Andrew Heasler will make a decision on the subject matter in dispute.
However, that doesn't necessarily mean the issue ends there. Both the prosecution and the defence teams have the right to appeal Judge Haesler's decision if they disagree with his findings.
Such a move would result in the case being halted until the appeal is determined by the Court of Criminal Appeal.
This would likely take weeks to resolve, causing even further delay. (And, given it would canvass the same issues that are currently being heard in the closed court, probably won't be able to be publicly reported.)
Meanwhile, the trial has been tentatively given a November 3 start date.
Yes, something truly unexpected may happen on Monday that could change the course of the legal proceedings against de Belin and Sinclair entirely.
