Danushka Gunathilaka Cleared Of All Charges Of Sexual Assault In Sydney

Sri Lankan batsman Danushka Gunathilaka has been acquitted of sexual assault charges stemming from an incident that allegedly occurred while he was in Australia to take part in last year’s Twenty20 World Cup. The 32-year-old was charged with sexual assault in Sydney in November last year and was released on bail after the incident.

However, the Lankan cricketer was granted bail by a judge in November 2022. However, Gunathilaka was banned from using Tinder and other social media platforms as he faced criminal charges.

When the 32-year-old was sentenced in Sydney’s Downing Center Local Court on Thursday, Judge Sarah Huggett declared him not guilty. After he was relieved, he was excited to try again.

Judge Haggett found that the legally unidentifiable complainant was a reliable witness who had not intentionally made a false statement.

“The evidence shows that the defendant did not have the opportunity to remove the condom during intercourse because the sex was continuous.

“In a desire to paint the cricketer in an unfavorable light, we found that the evidence on the charges was far from corroborating the accuser.In fact, it undermined the credibility of her testimony. It will damage it.”< /Strong

In November 2022, Danushka Gunathilaka and the woman connected through a dating app went out for drinks at Opera Bar, had a Pizza in Sydney’s financial district, and then took a ferry to the woman’s home in the eastern suburbs.

In statements to police and court, the woman accused her attacker of multiple counts of aggression and violence.

During the trial, the defense lawyer questioned the complainant’s veracity only in front of the judge, arguing that she changed and embellished her account of events over time to portray Gunathilaka as a belligerent person. did.

Two of the woman’s acquaintances also gave evidence before Judge Haggett, saying she had been weak and upset the day after the cricketer visited her home.

When Gunathilaka was arrested at the Hyatt Regency hours before the Sri Lankan cricket team was scheduled to depart, police initially laid four charges against him. Three of his charges were ultimately dismissed by prosecutors.

Gunatilaka has always maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty to one count of nonconsensual sexual intercourse.