According to the Times Argus, a New Year's Day incident ended in a man being charged for aggravated domestic assault after strangling a woman until she was unconscious and threatening her life.
Granite City resident, K.R., 37 is being held without bail. Though he pleaded not guilty to the charge, a felony, he will face a maximum 15-year prison sentence and a fine of $25,000 if a jury disagrees and convicts him.
Just after midnight the police received a call from a woman stating that K.R. was strangling her. When an officer arrived on scene, K.R. tried to keep him from entering the residence by bracing his own body up against the front door.
Seeing the woman on the phone, and still appearing distraught, the officer kicked the door several times until it gave way. According to the police, as soon as the officer gained access K.R. stepped toward the victim and tensed up his body.
The officer used pepper spray to immobilize K.R. and take him into custody. A breath test revealed that K.R.'s blood alcohol content was 0.119 percent.
The police affidavit stated that the woman claimed to have been choked until she passed out and that K.R. threatened to kill her. The victim was, however, uncomfortable with speaking to officers, as she was still afraid of what K.R. would do to her if she did.
Beyond K.R., according to the victim, his family had also threatened her. She said that the family warned her that if she brought the police into it, and anything happened to K.R., she would be "beat up by them."
Along with the woman, three children were also located in the residence. One of the children told police that during the incident she heard K.R. threaten, "You put your hands on me one more time and I'm going to slam your head into the wall."
The victim further stated that a restraining order would be powerless against K.R.'s wrath. Allegedly K.R. had told the woman, "I would just tear it up and I would be here and you would regret it."
Because of this allegation Deputy State Attorney Jason Hart asked the court to hold K.R. without bail to insure the woman's safety.
Attorney Rosie Chase, representing K.R., argued that the woman should have gotten an abuse prevention order against her client – and that was what a normal person would have done.
Judge Thomas Zonay agreed with Hart and said, "If you believe what the state says the testimony (of the alleged victim) would be, (filing for an abuse prevention order) goes directly against that. Why would someone apply for a relief of abuse if the person they are seeking it against has threatened them that a piece of paper isn't going to stop them?"
Chase replied, "Well, why wouldn't you (apply for an abuse prevention order)? It's an added protection."
Judge Zonay ultimately concluded that K.R. had made it clear that he would not respect court orders, and, due to the nature of his attack, he was still a threat to the victim. In addition, in the way that K.R. tried to keep the police from entering the residence, he exhibited a "callousness" and disregard for law enforcement.
Begin working to end the cycle domestic violence in your home when you contact a family law attorney. Only an experienced attorney can best represent you in the matter of domestic violence.