Masseuse describes moment Chris Gayle exposed himself
MASSAGE therapist Leanne Russell has been accused in court of making up a story about cricketer Chris Gayle exposing himself as part of a “plot” to get Gayle out of the West Indies team.
NSW
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A MASSAGE therapist told the NSW Supreme Court how she “cried uncontrollably…like a child” after cricketing superstar Chris Gayle flashed her in a change room during a training session before the 2015 World Cup.
Massage therapist Leanne Russell spoke publicly for the first time today about her claims that Gayle pulled down his towel partially exposing his penis saying it was “horrific”.
“I was upset because of what Chris had done because we had known each other for 10 years and jokes of that nature meant nothing to him but they upset me greatly,” Ms Russell said.
Ms Russell, an executive assistant for the AFL who had previously worked for Cricket Australia, was giving evidence for Fairfax who is being sued by Gayle over a series of articles about her claims of sexual harassment at Drummoyne Oval on February 11, 2015.
She told the four person jury that Gayle approached her in the change room pulled down the towel he was wearing and said, “are you looking for this?”
She was asked what she saw when he pulled away his towel to which she replied, “I saw the top half of his penis, apologies, and I therefore I shielded my view and left the change room.”
Ms Russell told the court another player, Dwayne Smith, was in the change room but he was looking away over his right shoulder when Gayle exposed himself.
Ms Russell said afterwards she went into the stands where she was, “crying uncontrollably, I was crying like a child.”
► Gayle sues Fairfax over claims he exposed himself
► Infamous interview made masseuse come forward
Ms Russell gave evidence that the flashing came a day after an uncomfortable incident with Dwayne Smith when he texted her “sexy,” while she was massaging him.
“I felt that the players felt this was funny and had started to gather and attack to either try their luck or intimidate,” she said.
Ms Russell said she decided to take her story to a newspaper the following year after seeing Gayle’s infamous sideline interview with sports journalist Mel McLaughlin when he said, “don’t blush baby”.
In cross examination Gayle’s barrister Bruce McClintock accused her of making up the story with Windies physiotherapist CJ Clarke to get Gayle out of the team.
The court had previously heard Gayle and Mr Clarke had an ongoing feud which a culminated in the physiotherapist challenging the cricketer to a fight during a tour of South Africa in January 2015.
“You and he hatched up a plot to fabricate an allegation about my client to achieve that end,” Mr McClintock said.
“Absolutely untrue,” Ms Russell said.
“The incident never happened,” Mr McClintock said.
“Absolutely incorrect,” Ms Russell said.
The trial continues.