Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka will settle into life in Sydney after being accused of sexually assaulting a lady a number of instances, a court docket has heard.
The 31-year-old appeared in Sydney Downing Centre Native Court docket on Friday after being charged with 4 counts of sexual activity with out consent.
He requested the court docket for permission to maneuver right into a one-bedroom condominium whereas he wrestles along with his prolonged authorized battle forward.
Police allege the worldwide cricket star matched with a lady on a courting app and so they had chatted a lot of instances earlier than they met on November 2.
The pair had drinks within the metropolis earlier than they went again to the lady’s residence in Sydney’s illustrious jap suburbs round 11pm, based on a reality sheet tendered by police in opposition to a earlier bail utility.
In response to police, Mr Gunathilaka then ignored the lady’s request to “take it sluggish” and as an alternative allegedly choked and assaulted the 29-year-old girl in her own residence.
The upper-order batsman allegedly compelled himself on high of the lady when the pair moved to the bed room. Police declare the lady was uncomfortable and agreed to proceed with sexual exercise provided that Mr Gunathilaka wore a condom.
“He protested, however ultimately agreed,” police paperwork tendered to the court docket acknowledged.
The court docket heard the lady later discovered the condom on the ground beside the mattress.
Police allege the lady was “in shock” and didn’t consent to intercourse and not using a condom. She once more requested him to make use of a condom however he refused and forcefully engaged in sexual exercise, based on police claims.
Throughout the a number of hours he remained on the girl’s residence, Mr Gunathilaka allegedly choked the lady a number of instances and slapped her on the buttocks.
The lady was “frozen and in shock” earlier than the worldwide cricketer requested her to order an Uber for him. He left her residence simply earlier than 1am.
The lady wakened the subsequent morning with sore and swollen lips and known as two buddies to inform them in regards to the incident. She additionally contacted a counselling service and noticed her physician the morning after the alleged sexual assaults.
She advised police she was unable to work as a result of she “couldn’t cease crying”.
Mr Gunathilaka has not entered pleas to the 4 prices of sexual assault.
On Friday, the court docket heard he needed to alter his bail circumstances to permit him to reside alone in Sydney after residing with a supporter.
“He’s not going to reside with anybody. He’s discovered a one-bedroom condominium,” his lawyer Alen Sahinovic stated.
The worldwide cricket star was granted bail final month with strict restrictions which included a ban on utilizing courting functions or his current social media profiles.
He had been behind bars on remand for 11 days earlier than being granted his conditional liberty.
The court docket heard the brand new handle in Rhodes, in Sydney’s inside west, has a vibrant Sri Lankan group which might reduce the danger of Mr Gunathilaka fleeing the nation.
“If something, it enhances Mr Gunathilaka’s group ties,” Mr Sahinovic stated.
Shifting into his personal place would additionally enable the worldwide cricketer to keep away from “difficulties related to the present residence”, the court docket heard.
Mr Sahinovic argued the change would enable Mr Gunathilaka to be extra comfy for “what’s going to little doubt be a prolonged and troublesome” authorized battle.
The court docket heard the cricket star’s new residence would “nonetheless be a big distance” from the alleged sufferer’s residence in Sydney’s jap suburbs.
“It doesn’t appear to me that there’s any change in any related danger points,” Justice of the Peace Clare Farnan stated.
She granted the bail variation and adjourned the matter till January 12, when Mr Gunathilaka will return to court docket.
The Sri Lankan nationwide surrendered his passport and can’t method any worldwide departure level as a provision of his bail.
He was ordered to report back to police on daily basis and to abide by a nightly curfew.
The cricketer’s bail was backed by a $150,000 surety supplied by a “buddy of a buddy” and an extra $50,000 to be supplied by the cricketer.
