- Star was discovered not responsible of offence in September 2023
- Was caught in Australia for nearly a 12 months throughout authorized battle
A world cricketer who was discovered not responsible of sexually assaulting his Tinder date in Sydney has poked enjoyable on the case whereas going Instagram official together with his new companion.
Sri Lankan star Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested in Sydney in November 2022 and charged with sexual assault with out consent.
Police alleged he had eliminated a condom with out consent, also called ‘stealthing’, throughout a sexual encounter with a girl he met on Tinder whereas he was in Sydney for the Cricket World Cup.
Gunathilaka was discovered not responsible in a judge-only trial that completed in September 2023 and allowed to depart the nation, with police pushing for an apprehended violence order to be taken out in opposition to him regardless of the decision.
On Saturday, the 34-year-old joked about needing a lawyer for a attainable return to courtroom as he debuted his new, unnamed girlfriend.
‘I am undecided what’s extra terrifying, the marriage or the potential for a future courtroom date. Ship wine… and possibly a lawyer referral,’ he wrote alongside a collection of pictures of him together with his new companion.
His followers celebrated the information with feedback like ‘wanting lovely collectively’ and ‘glad to see you want this once more’.
Cricket star Danushka Gunathilaka is pictured together with his new companion in an Instagram put up he made on Saturday
The Sri Lankan batter joked about his trial for sexual assault in Sydney within the caption for the put up (pictured). He was discovered not responsible in a judge-only trial
Gunathilaka’s information seems to substantiate he has damaged up with the girl who supported him by the trial (pictured), which led to September 2023
The put up seems to make it official that Gunathilaka has damaged up with Celine, the girl who supported him throughout his trial in Sydney.
In her verdict, Decide Sarah Huggett discovered that whereas Gunathilaka informed the girl he most popular to not put on a condom, he used one through the encounter and had consensual intercourse with the girl.
She additionally discovered that police who tried to prosecute the cricket star acted ‘unreasonably’ and revealed she had ‘vital issues’ concerning the prosecution case.
‘I am firmly of the opinion that if the prosecution had – earlier than the proceedings have been instituted – been in possession of proof and all of the related information, it might not have been cheap to institute the proceedings,’ she mentioned.
The highest-order T20 batter was arrested and charged with 4 counts of sexual assault in November 2022 after the girl reported the matter to Bondi police.
The courtroom was informed the girl informed Mr Gunathilaka she would solely comply with intercourse if he wore a condom, which he ‘grumbled’ about however finally agreed to.
Notes from the girl’s first police interview point out she informed officers the condom was taken off ‘in opposition to her will’, allegations Mr Gunathilaka denied.
Throughout that interview, Decide Huggett mentioned the girl failed to incorporate ‘essential’ proof she later supplied to police in a press release some six months later.
The 34-year-old star, who performed eight Checks and 47 one-day internationals for Sri Lanka, was arrested in Sydney whereas he was in Australia for the 2022 World Cup
Gunathilaka appeared very pleased together with his new companion within the put up (pictured)
In the end, police solely proceeded to trial on a single cost, that of stealthing, with prices referring to the alleged roughness of the intercourse being dropped.
‘The deficiencies within the prosecution case of stealthing, remembering that the prosecution case was not certainly one of tough or aggressive sexual activity, have been obvious,’ Decide Huggett mentioned.
‘They weren’t the results of the factual findings made at trial … Nor have been the deficiencies associated merely to the credibility of the complainant.
‘There have been so many inherent points and difficulties with the prosecution case that ought to have been apparent to the prosecution on the outset.’
Decide Huggett ordered a certificates be issued to Mr Gunathilaka so he could possibly be awarded prices.
