Murder trial: Couple 'had sex in front of girl'

A deceased Geraldton doctor, and his wife who is alleged to have killed him, had sex in front of a 17-year-old girl they formed a sexual relationship with to “show her what to do”.

Chamari Liyanage, who is on trial for her husband’s murder, detailed to police in a recorded interview how her husband “wanted to make a connection” with the girl and would ask Dr Liyanage to phone her to organise meetings.

The girl went shopping with the couple, on trips to the Chapman and Greenough rivers, and to a movie night at the couple’s Shenton Street unit.

Dr Liyanage said her husband would also buy the girl things “to impress her”.

The girl tried to refuse the gift of a $300 camera, and Dr Athukorala got down on his knees in front of her at The Good Guys in Geraldton and asked her to accept it.

“Anyone would have been embarrassed if a man had kneeled in front of her and asked to buy her something,” Dr Liyanage told police.

It was at the movie night at the couple’s unit that the three engaged in sexual activity.

Dr Liyanage told police it was her husband’s idea to arrange the movie night so the girl would have to stay overnight.

After the movie, Dr Athukorala said he was bored and suggested they all dance and drink alcohol.

Dr Liyanage told police her husband “wanted to touch [the girl] and do things to her and [she] was supposed to help him”.

The three of them ended up in bed together, Dr Athukorala and the girl were naked, and Dr Liyanage was clothed.

Dr Athukorala rubbed his penis between the girl’s legs, touched her genital area and kissed her while his wife lay beside them.

“I couldn’t leave them. I had to be there. Dean warned me I had to support all his relationships,” she said.

“I physically couldn’t do anything to stop it, I kept tapping him on the shoulder reminding him he’s not supposed to have actual intercourse.”

Dr Liyanage admitted to police she also touched the girl’s breasts and genital area.

She said her husband gave the girl up to 10 contraceptive pills following the incident, as he was worried she may get pregnant if he’d left semen between her legs, and told her they were vitamins.

Dr Liyanage drove the girl home the next day and told her she could refuse her husband’s advances at any time.

She also told police her husband planned to take the girl to Bali.

On one of the visits to the couple’s home the girl was tied to a chair and had her mouth covered with a shirt by Dr Athukorala.

Dr Liyanage said she found the whole relationship stressful and would worry because she couldn’t tell anyone.

The trial continues.