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 Local Court 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 together with his prolonged authorized battle forward.
Police allege the worldwide cricket star matched with a lady on a relationship app they usually 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 dwelling in Sydney’s illustrious japanese suburbs round 11pm, in accordance with a truth sheet tendered by police in opposition to a earlier bail utility.
According to police, Mr Gunathilaka then ignored the lady’s request to “take it slow” and as an alternative allegedly choked and assaulted the 29-year-old lady in her own residence.
The upper-order batsman allegedly compelled himself on prime 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, but eventually 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 with out a condom. She once more requested him to make use of a condom however he refused and forcefully engaged in sexual exercise, in accordance with police claims.
During the a number of hours he remained on the lady’s dwelling, 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 dwelling simply earlier than 1am.
The lady awoke the subsequent morning with sore and swollen lips and referred to as two mates to inform them concerning 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 stop crying”.
Mr Gunathilaka has not entered pleas to the 4 fees of sexual assault.
On Friday, the court docket heard he needed to alter his bail circumstances to permit him to dwell alone in Sydney after residing with a supporter.
“He’s not going to live with anyone. He’s found a one-bedroom apartment,” his lawyer Alen Sahinovic stated.
The worldwide cricket star was granted bail final month with strict restrictions which included a ban on utilizing relationship purposes 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 tackle in Rhodes, in Sydney’s inside west, has a vibrant Sri Lankan neighborhood which might reduce the danger of Mr Gunathilaka fleeing the nation.
“If anything, it enhances Mr Gunathilaka’s community ties,” Mr Sahinovic stated.
Moving into his personal place would additionally enable the worldwide cricketer to keep away from “difficulties associated with the current residence”, the court docket heard.
Mr Sahinovic argued the change would enable Mr Gunathilaka to be extra comfy for “what will no doubt be a lengthy and difficult” authorized battle.
The court docket heard the cricket star’s new dwelling would “still be a significant distance” from the alleged sufferer’s dwelling in Sydney’s japanese suburbs.
“It doesn’t seem to me that there’s any change in any relevant risk issues,” Magistrate 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 strategy any worldwide departure level as a provision of his bail.
He was ordered to report back to police day by day and to abide by a nightly curfew.
The cricketer’s bail was backed by a $150,000 surety offered by a “friend of a friend” and an additional $50,000 to be offered by the cricketer.
