It has been a rough year for the image of the NFL and things could be about to get a little more interesting. Earlier in the year Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy was sidelined due to domestic violence charges that had surfaced against him. Today, surprisingly those charges were dropped.
According to ESPN,
Domestic violence charges against Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy have been dismissed, with his accuser not making herself available to help with the case, prosecutors announced Monday.
Hardy’s appeal of his 2014 conviction was scheduled to begin Monday morning at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, but his accuser, ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder, did not show up for the hearing.
In a statement explaining the decision to dismiss charges, the district attorney’s office said it has “reliable information” that Holder and Hardy have reached a civil settlement and that she has “intentionally made herself unavailable to the State.”
Prosecutors have been unable to locate Holder to issue her a subpoena, which would have compelled her to testify in the trial. Holder’s civil attorney also has refused to assist prosecutors in locating his client.
“To prosecute domestic violence cases, we encourage domestic violence victims to not only report domestic violence but to participate in every level of the prosecution,” Charlotte District Attorney Andrew Murray said outside the courthouse. “We need that participation in order to gain justice for not only victims of domestic violence, but for this community.”
The NFL has yet to issue a statement however there are many levels still remaining in this case. Hardy could become a free agent this offseason and he will likely face a suspension for the league as well. As more information continues to surface, stay tuned to HHS1987 for all your sports news.
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