Hardy - Case Dismissed

[TxHeat]

Greg Hardy's trial for domestic violence is over after the Panthers pass rusher's case was dismissed due to the unavailability of the alleged victim, according to Jonathan Jones of the Charlotte Observer, and also according to Jones, a settlement was reached between Hardy and his accuser, Nicole Holder, although the case was dismissed by the judge before that settlement was finalized in court. The district attorney said Holder, who didn't appear in court Monday, made herself "completely unavailable" for the trial.

Hardy, 26, played just one game in 2014 after he was convicted last summer for assaulting and threatening to kill an ex-girlfriend. His appeal trial was set to begin Monday, but is now over before jury selection even began. That doesn't mean things will go back to normal for Hardy, though.
The NFL issued a statement on Hardy after the case was dismissed: "His status remains unchanged until we fully review the matter."

Good luck on this Goofdell.

 

[flyerhawk]

Charges were dismissed. He wasn't acquitted.

 

[packerzrule]

You would have thought the league had enough time to "fully review the matter" as opposed to waiting on the results of a potential jury trial.

 

[Cyder]

This is not uncommon. The victim does not want to cooperate, is frightened or has moved on and wants to put it behind them. In most areas the D.A. can go forward with the case and subpeona the victim but it rarely works and arresting the victim for not showing up never goes over well. In a case like this where the guy might have a few bucks the victim may be on an all expenses paid extanded holiday.

 

[TxHeat]

This is not uncommon. The victim does not want to cooperate, is frightened or has moved on and wants to put it behind them. In most areas the D.A. can go forward with the case and subpeona the victim but it rarely works and arresting the victim for not showing up never goes over well. In a case like this where the guy might have a few bucks the victim may be on an all expenses paid extanded holiday.

but I bet the league was hoping it would go to trial and let the legal system sort it out. now Goofdell has another pile of dogshit at his door. No doubt he'll find a way to step on it.

 

[Balljim55]

Who wants him? He is a free agent and the Panthers will not resign him. Some team could get a hell of a pass rusher here. He could be huge in Jacksonville.

Goodell is in a bit of a pickle it would seem. He was originally convicted of misdemeanor charges by a judge, then he asked for a Jury trial so I assume that conviction was set aside and now the case is dropped. There is no acquittal in here. So how many games (if any) does he get suspended?

 

[Cyder]

but I bet the league was hoping it would go to trial and let the legal system sort it out. now Goofdell has another pile of dogshit at his door. No doubt he'll find a way to step on it.

Yep. Maybe they should have a 4 or 6 person panel do the disciplinary hearings. the players and association and the league each get 1/2 the positions and you find someone both sides can agree on to break ties. Maybe a guy like Curtis Martin who all sides think highly of. Maybe throw a couple of legal experts in.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

This is not uncommon. The victim does not want to cooperate, is frightened or has moved on and wants to put it behind them. In most areas the D.A. can go forward with the case and subpeona the victim but it rarely works and arresting the victim for not showing up never goes over well. In a case like this where the guy might have a few bucks the victim may be on an all expenses paid extanded holiday.

More like a payment settlement to walk away.

 

[R.J. MacReady]

They are never going to make any progress on the domestic violence front if they can't find a way to make the charges stick without the cooperation of the victim. In most cases the victims lives is so tied up with her own attackers that it is a wonder they ever cooperate.

 

[Cyder]

More like a payment settlement to walk away.

It would have to be behind the scenes or technically it's tampering with a witness. At least I believe it is. Not sure if being the victim gives you status other than a witness. In domestic violence cases in most areas the victim cannot simply drop charges like a regular assault. In most areas the DA decides if charges are pressed or not in a D.V. case

 

[Cyder]

They are never going to make any progress on the domestic violence front if they can't find a way to make the charges stick without the cooperation of the victim. In most cases the victims lives is so tied up with her own attackers that it is a wonder they ever cooperate.

They original thought was to make pressing charges the DA's responsibility. Victims were often afraid that if they didn't drop the charges they would be hurt so the decision is taken out of their hands.

Now the problem is getting the victim to cooperate without arresting them for a bench warrant for ignoring the subpeona.

The only thing the first part helps with is the DA can put a restraining order on the accused without the victims permission (In NY anyway) so if he goes near her or even calls/texts, he's in violation and they can press charges for that and deny bail.

 

[TxHeat]

Unless a prosecutor has a victim to put in front of a jury they know the defendant will walk if they were to ever try to go to trial. They aren't going to waste the time and effort with no cooperating victim.

 

[Cyder]

Unless a prosecutor has a victim to put in front of a jury they know the defendant will walk if they were to ever try to go to trial. They aren't going to waste the time and effort with no cooperating victim.

Exactly.

 

[flaraider]

Unless a prosecutor has a victim to put in front of a jury they know the defendant will walk if they were to ever try to go to trial. They aren't going to waste the time and effort with no cooperating victim.

This has been happening with alarming regularity, back in the OJ days that would not fly. It has happened down here multiple times, recently with that duochebag Zimmerman, smh.

I am not sure if it still the case, but during the '90s the DA's in Cali would press on with a domestic case even with a minimum of evidence and no victim present. It seems this issue, while deemed too important to ignore by the NFL and the public in general, doesn't carry that same weight with prosecutors.

 

[WizardHawk]

Let's see... A person who stands to lose not only his potential freedom, but millions of dollars has his victim suddenly come up with stage fright for a court case.

Can't think of any reason why she would not show up other than he's innocent.

 

[Balljim55]

Personally I think she got her hands on Brady's deflated balls, swooned and forgot all about the court case. This is the only plausible explanation. I'm pretty sure Belichik was involved but i can't prove it

 

[TBBishop]

So basically the vic got paid off and the charges were dropped. The fact still remains that he beat the dog shit out of this girl. Shouldn't be too hard for Goodell to judge.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

It would have to be behind the scenes or technically it's tampering with a witness. At least I believe it is. Not sure if being the victim gives you status other than a witness. In domestic violence cases in most areas the victim cannot simply drop charges like a regular assault. In most areas the DA decides if charges are pressed or not in a D.V. case

It appears to be a clear case of the victim having a change of heart (cough $, cough $) and she would have to cooperate for a tampering charge to stick.

In either case...with recent precedent in place with Rice...I would still be leery of signing Hardy...he's going to miss at least 6 to 8 games.

 

[TxHeat]

It appears to be a clear case of the victim having a change of heart (cough $, cough $) and she would have to cooperate for a tampering charge to stick.

In either case...with recent precedent in place with Rice...I would still be leery of signing Hardy...he's going to miss at least 6 to 8 games.

not to mention the bad PR stench that will follow.

 

[Southieinnc]

Who wants him? He is a free agent and the Panthers will not resign him. Some team could get a hell of a pass rusher here. He could be huge in Jacksonville.

Goodell is in a bit of a pickle it would seem. He was originally convicted of misdemeanor charges by a judge, then he asked for a Jury trial so I assume that conviction was set aside and now the case is dropped. There is no acquittal in here. So how many games (if any) does he get suspended?

But if all the women in JAX won't go to the games?????