Sri Lankan cricketer DanushkaGutanthilaka 32 years old was charged with four counts of sexual intercourse without consent charges after the t20 World Cup tour in Australia last year, for allegedly raping a woman in Sydney.
According to Australian news, the Public prosecutor on the case, has withdrawn three of the charges
It was reported further that apolice facts sheet filed with the court said the woman “was fearing for her life and could not get away from the accused” during the November 2022 incident.
The prosecution successfully applied last month for an adjournment, which took the hearing beyond the six-month requirement for charge certification.
Gunathilaka’s lawyer, Alen Sahinovic, opposed the delay, arguing his client was being subjected to undue hardship as a foreign citizen with strict bail conditions and limited familial and social support.
Gunathilaka travelled to Australia with Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup team last year but only played in their first game before being ruled out of the competition with a hamstring tear.
He was arrested in the early hours of 6 November at Sydney’s Hyatt Regency hotel, shortly before he was scheduled to board a flight home with the rest of the team after they bowed out of the tournament.
He is set to reappear in court to make a plea on 13 July.
Source: Australian Press