The case revolved around a Tinder date between Gunathilaka and the woman, which led to Gunathilaka's arrest and initial charges, most of which were later dropped.
Danushka Gunathilaka has been declared not guilty in the sexual assault trial that has kept him in Australia since his arrest in November. The Sri Lankan batter was acquitted by Judge Sarah Huggett at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court, with the judge asserting that the evidence established that there was no opportunity for Gunathilaka to remove the condom during the continuous intercourse. The complainant, who cannot be named, was described as an intelligent and responsive witness, although at times, her motivations appeared to be to cast the cricketer in a negative light.
Gunathilaka expressed his relief at the verdict and his eagerness to return to playing cricket. His defence team indicated their intention to seek to cover his legal costs. The case revolved around a Tinder date between Gunathilaka and the woman, which led to Gunathilaka’s arrest and initial charges, most of which were later dropped.
Read More: ICC ODI World Cup 2023 Schedule
While the woman accused Gunathilaka of various aggressive acts, none of them were presented as charges during the trial. Gunathilaka consistently maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent related to the alleged incident. During the trial, questions were raised about the credibility of the complainant’s account, with the defence suggesting inconsistencies and edits in her version of events.
The judge also expressed concerns about the police’s handling of the case, describing their conduct as “very concerning” and “far from satisfactory.” Gunathilaka, who had been on bail during the trial, is now looking forward to resuming his normal life and cricket career.
Follow Us
