Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka acquitted of sexual assault prices by Sydney court docket

Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka has been acquitted of sexual assault prices by a Sydney court docket. The 32-year-old was arrested in November 2022 throughout the T20 World Cup, following an accusation of non-consensual sexual activity made by a girl. Initially dealing with 4 counts of rape, the court docket proceeded with just one rely throughout the trial.

Gunathilaka pleaded not responsible and underwent a four-day trial presided over by Judge Sarah Huggett on the Downing Centre District Court. Despite being below suspension from all cricket actions by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), Gunathilaka is now cleared to return to Sri Lanka.

Judge Sarah Huggett famous that the cricketer had “answered every question asked of him” by the police and gave a “distinct impression he was doing his best to be truthful”. The choose stated, “The evidence establishes that there was no opportunity for the accused to remove the condom … because that intercourse was continuous.”

Judge Sarah Huggett stated, “There is no reason at all to reject or disbelieve what he said in that interview. The complainant did not strike me as a witness motivated by a desire to give deliberately false evidence. However, there were occasions when I formed the impression that some of her evidence had the appearance of being motivated by a desire to paint the accused in an unfavourable light.”

Danushka Gunathilaka stated outdoors the court docket in Sydney, “I think the judge’s verdict says everything. The last 11 months have been really hard for me. I’m happy that my life is normal again. So I can’t wait to go back and play cricket.”

Notably, the lady had alleged that she was sexually assaulted 4 occasions in her Rose Bay home on November 2, 2022, after going out on a date with the Sri Lankan cricketer, who was on the town for the T20 World Cup. Danushka Gunathilaka was then arrested from Sydney’s Hyatt Regency Hotel by the Sydney police when the remainder of the members of the Sri Lankan group had been making ready to return house following the group’s elimination from the Super 12 stage.

Danushka Gunathilaka has performed 8 Tests, 47 ODIs, and 46 T20Is for his nation. He is a left-handed batsman and a right-arm leg-break bowler. In ODIs, Gunathilaka has scored 1601 runs at a median of 35.57, with two centuries and eleven half-centuries. His highest rating is 133, which he scored towards India in 2017. He has additionally taken one wicket in ODIs. In T20Is, Gunathilaka has scored 741 runs at a median of 16.46, with three half-centuries. His highest rating is 57, which he scored towards New Zealand in 2019. He has not taken any wickets in T20Is.