Cricket Update: Sri Lankan cricketer charged with sexual assault
Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka faces serious sexual assault after chocking and raping woman during T20 World Cup in Australia. Follow for cricket update and news here!
*Warning: sensitive content
The 31 year-old cricketer was due to leave Australia the morning he was arrested. New details of the police case have emerged one day before he asks for a review of his bail conditions. He was charged of four counts of sexual intercourse without content. According to police report, Mr Gunathilaka sexually assaulted a Sydney woman he matched via dating app. For more live cricket breaking news and stories, click here!
He was denied bail after police argued he is a flight risk. In the police report, Mr. Gunathilaka and the 29 year-old complainant — met via Tinder on October 29. After that, they agreed to have a physical meet-up on November 2 in Sydney to go out for drinks and dinner before returning to the complainant’s home. Jayne Doherty, a NSW sex crimes squad commander said the woman took steps to secure her safety – includes a consistent communication with the cricketer for days online before meeting in person and going for a date.
The Sri Lankan cricketer then allegedly “forced” sexual intercourse with the woman, choking her three times. The victim also noticed the condom on the floor during the alleged assault, a proof that the cricketer did not follow the demand of the victim to wear a condom. In an interview with police, Mr. Gunathilaka denied all allegation of violence and said the sex had been consensual, but when asked by detectives, he could not recall conversations with the complainant about consent.
“The complainant was fearing for her life and could not get away from the accused,” according to police court documents.
The Sri Lanka Cricket has been notified of the charges and would monitor the court proceedings closely.
“In consultation with the [International Cricket Council] we will expeditiously initiate a thorough inquiry into the matter and take stern action against the player if found guilty,’ the statement said. Gunathilaka traveled to Australia with Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup team but he was ruled out of the competition due to a hamstring injury and only played one game for Sri Lanka, a defeat against Namibia.
Sri Lanka exited the T20 tournament on November 5, after losing their final match over the Champion England.
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