Image Source- ICC
Danushka Gunathilaka, a batter for Sri Lanka, was found
not guilty of “stealthing” a Tinder date and committing sexual
assault.
As the 32-year-old listened to the verdict on Thursday
in Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court, Judge Sarah Huggett declared him
innocent. He expressed excitement about starting up again after being
exonerated.
The complainant, who cannot be legally identified, was
deemed by Judge Huggett to be a credible witness who did not knowingly provide
false testimony.
The judge did note that the woman occasionally gave
off the idea that she was “motivated by a desire to paint the cricketer in
a negative light.”
“The evidence establishes that there was no
opportunity for the accused to remove the condom during intercourse because
that intercourse was continuous,” the judge said in handing down the
verdict.
“I find that the evidence regarding the complaint
far from supports the complainant. Rather it undermines the reliability of her
evidence.”
The cricketer’s defence team hinted that he might ask
the Crown to cover his legal fees in defending against the charge.
Gunathilaka praised his attorneys, parents, and other
supporters outside of court for their assistance throughout the 11 months he
characterised as being extremely difficult.
“I’m happy my life is normal again,” he
said. “I can’t wait to go back and play cricket.”
In relation to the cricketer’s alleged
“stealing,” or removing his condom during sex without the woman’s
consent, Gunathilaka always maintained his innocence and entered a plea of not
guilty to one count of sexual intercourse without consent.
Defence attorneys cast doubt on the complainant’s
veracity during the judge-only trial, asserting that she changed her version of
events over time and embellished it to portray Gunathilaka as a belligerent
individual.
Gunathilaka has been on bail during the trial but was
unable to play international cricket or return to his hometown of Colombo.