Judge makes ruling on charges against NFL player accused of domestic violence
San Francisco 49ers running back Reuben Foster was accused by his girlfriend of assault, but a video shows how she actually got her injuries, a judge said.
[griojw id=”AEZi1e2V” playerid=”GqX43ZoG”]
Domestic violence charges have been dropped against San Francisco 49ers linebacker Reuben Foster after his girlfriend changed her story of abuse against the football player.
The Superior Court Judge Nona Klippen ruled Wednesday that there was insufficient evidence against Foster in the abuse case and ordered the charges dismissed, reports Deadspin.
READ MORE: Homeless man targets Burger King in lawsuit over fake bill accusation
Foster was arrested in February and charged after a domestic dispute with his girlfriend Elissa Ennis, who said he punched her in the head “8 to 10 times.” She claims she suffered a ruptured eardrum.
But Ennis changed her tune in April and released a statement saying that she actually was in a fight with another woman and received her injuries in that altercation. Through a statement released by her attorney, she said that Foster had not threatened or hurt her.
A video of a fight with another woman was viewed by the judge who determined that the video was more believable to substantiate her claims and it was more consistent with her injuries than punching from Foster would have been, according to reports.
The Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office released a statement expressing “disappointment” with the judge’s decision and saying “the evidence demonstrated that Mr. Foster seriously hurt his girlfriend.”
Foster will still appear in court on a weapons charge June 6. He also has another court date in in Alabama on charges of marijuana possession.
READ MORE: Police officers who tasered Sterling Brown ‘disciplined’ after body cam footage released
The case is a throwback to the case against former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice, when a 2014 video surfaced showing him punching his then-fiancée Janay Palmer. Rice could be seen hitting Palmer twice in the face causing her to fall, hit her head on a handrail inside an elevator and end up out cold. Palmer recanted in that case, as well.
Also, recently Houston Astros prospect, Danry Vasquez, has been fired from his Pennsylvania minor league team following the release of a viral video showing his brutal battery attack against his girlfriend.
According to documents obtained by TMZ, the Venezuelan outfielder was arrested in August 2016 on domestic violence charges in Texas after repeatedly pummeling the woman in her head and dragging her down a flight of stairs with a stairwell in Whataburger Field stadium. Officials were reportedly in possession of the video at the time of the arrest.
Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez told TMZ that the victim would not cooperate with the investigation and asked for the charges to be dropped. Due to the lack of support of the victim, officials had no choice but to stop from pursuing the case any further.
You Might Like
