Danushka Gunathilaka Found “Not Guilty” in Sexual Assault Trial
Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka, accused of sexual assault during a Tinder date in Australia while participating in the T20 World Cup 2022, has been acquitted of all charges and found “not guilty.”
The 32-year-old batter had faced allegations of sexually assaulting a woman in Sydney after a Tinder date in November 2022.
According to reports, Judge Sarah Huggett, presiding over the case at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court, declared Gunathilaka “not guilty.” The judge stated that Gunathilaka had told the truth to the police and had “no opportunity” to commit the act in question.
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“The evidence establishes that there was no opportunity for the accused to remove the condom during intercourse because that intercourse was continuous,” Judge Huggett asserted while delivering the verdict. She emphasized that there was no reason to doubt Gunathilaka’s statements made during the interview with the police.
In contrast, Judge Huggett found that the complainant, who is not legally named, had provided inconsistent accounts in her statements to the police and did not have a clear recollection of the events. The judge also suggested that the complainant might have been motivated by a desire to portray the cricketer negatively.
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Following the verdict, Gunathilaka expressed gratitude to his legal team, parents, and supporters who stood by him during the challenging 11 months. He stated, “I’m happy that my life is normal again, so I can’t wait to go back and play cricket.”
Gunathilaka, who has represented Sri Lanka in over 100 matches, including eight Tests, had been suspended from competitive cricket after his arrest. Although he was on bail during the trial, he was unable to participate in international cricket or return to his hometown of Colombo.
The events in question occurred when Gunathilaka and the woman matched on the dating app and met for drinks at Opera Bar in November 2022. They later had pizza together in the Sydney CBD and took a ferry to the woman’s home in the eastern suburbs.
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The woman had accused the cricketer of various acts of aggression and violence during their encounter, including slapping her buttocks, forcefully kissing her, causing bruising to her lips, and choking her during sexual activity.
Initially, police had charged Gunathilaka with multiple counts of rape, but during the trial, only one count related to the act of “stealthing” proceeded to prosecution.
Judge Huggett expressed concerns about the conduct of the police in prosecuting Gunathilaka, describing it as “very concerning” and “far from satisfactory.”
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-IANS
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