(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka who is accused of sexually assaulted a woman in Sydney, through his lawyers has requested a judge-alone trial instead of a jury trial.
He appeared at Sydney’s Downing Centre District Court Friday where his lawyer asked for an arraignment to be delayed until an application for a judge-alone trial can be lodged.
Crown prosecutors will contest the application at a hearing on July 24, Australian media reported.
The 32-year-old cricketer is accused of sexually assaulting a woman while on tour in Sydney for the T20 World Cup.
He is facing one count of sexual intercourse without consent, after the public prosecutor withdrew three other charges earlier this year. Gunathilaka has entered a not guilty plea to the remaining charge and will stand trial.
Danushka Gunathilaka was arrested by the Sydney Police at the hotel where the Sri Lankan cricket team was staying on November 6th, 2022 in connection with a complaint filed by a 29-year-old woman, a resident of Rose Bay, East of Sydney.
Gunathilaka was released on November 17 last year on a cash bail of 200,000 Australian dollars.
