West Indies swashbuckling batsman Chris Gayle has won the defamation case against an Australian media which alleged that he exposed himself to a female massage therapist during a Sydney training session in the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Following less than two hours of deliberation, the jury at the New South Wales Supreme Court found that Australian media i.e Fairfax media had failed to establish the truth of a stories surfaced alleging that the Caribbean player had exposed himself and indecently propositioned to the therapist.
Known for his big-hitting and aggressive style of batting, Gayle sued Fairfax for the articles which he described as 'untrue' and had damaged his reputation.
Embracing his barrister Bruce McClintock as they left the court, Gayle told the reporters that he was really happy with the court's decision while thanking his legal team for doing a great job.
"I'm a good man. I'm not guilty," the Guardian quoted Gayle, as saying.
Gayle, who led the West Indies Test team between 2007 and 2010, explained that his case was never about the money and that if Fairfax Media appealed then he would fight it again.
Gayle further expressed his desire to put the "emotional" case behind him and get on with his life.
"Fairfax Media is concerned with the conduct of the trial to the extent that, on Friday, it sought an order that the jury be discharged and a new trial ordered. The judge accepted that the jury had been misled in a way that prejudiced Fairfax but declined to discharge the jury. Fairfax believes that it did not get a fair trial. It is seriously considering its appeal rights," a spokesman said.
The reports by Fairfax Media followed an uproar after the big-hitting Caribbean batsman attempted to flirt with an Australian presenter during a broadcast interview, asking her out on a date before adding the 'Don't blush baby' remark.
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