A Sydney Court Acquitted Sri Lankan Cricketer Of Sexual Harassment Charges
A Sydney court has acquitted a 32-year-old Sri Lankan cricketer of sexual assault charges. Gunathilaka was arrested on the sidelines of the T20 World Cup in November last year after a woman accused him of having sex without consent.
Gunathilaka Was Charged With Four Counts Of Rape:-
Danushka was charged with four counts of rape, but was later “secretly” charged with only one and the court tried him later.
Also read:- There Was A Change in India’s WC Team, The Bowler Who Took 155 Wickets in ODI Got A Chance
Gunathilaka pleaded not guilty and faced a four-day trial before Judge Sarah Huggett in the Downing Center District Court.
Judge Sarah Huggett Said During her sentencing in Downing Center District Court:-
Judge Huggett said during sentencing, “The evidence establishes that Danushka is wrong because she did not have any sex items with her and she had no opportunity to remove them.”
The judge further told the court, “There is no reason to reject or disbelieve what he said in that interview.” “(The complainant) deliberately did not present me as a witness due to his desire to give false evidence.
The Judge’s Decision Says It All:-
“I think the judge’s decision says it all,” Gunathilaka said outside court in Sydney.
“The last 11 months have been very difficult for me. I’m glad that my life is back to normal. So I can’t wait to go back and play cricket.”
Gunathilaka, who played 8 Tests, 47 ODIs, and 46 T20 matches for Sri Lanka, said that in the last year has been “really hard” for him and he’s very happy to get back to “normal” life again.
Read more:- Australia’s Ashton And South Africa’s Temba Ruled Out Of Upcoming WC 2023
Danushka, who is suspended from all forms of cricket by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), is now free to return to Sri Lanka.