On Wednesday, September 16, a man in his fifties appeared in court for “habitual violence” against his partner, with whom he had lived for 27 years, and illegal possession of firearms. After yet another violent incident, his wife decided to file a complaint, supported by a close friend.
Those are twenty-seven years of violence that R. told the police the day she came to file a complaint. Years ofholdinsults, violence, and non-consensual sex. What triggered it? Another evening where her partner assaulted her, after a excessive jealousy During a dinner with friends, B., convinced he saw his partner kiss their friend as they were saying goodbye, grabbed her by the neck, shoved her, and slapped her. The medical certificate mentions bruises on her hands and a possible sprained finger, with six days ofITT.
In the dock, The defendant refers to it as a “bad reflex” But he denies habitual violence, mentioning “only” insults, which he attributes to his alcohol consumption. For the prosecution, this notion of “reflex” suggests that he regularly hits his partner, which B. refutes. This version contrasts with his statements to the police, to whom he reportedly admitted to “hitting [his] wife once every three months.”
Reclassification of the facts
This is the crux of the matter: the only acts of violence corroborated by evidence and witness statements, apart from that of the victim, occurred on the night before the complaint was filed. This discrepancy, raised by the defense, led the court to reclassify the facts as “domestic violence".
Found guilty, B. is sentenced to 12 months suspended sentence, along with 24 months of probationary periodand will have to pay €1.000 to the victim for moral damages. He is also forbidden to contact her, to approach her home or possessing a weapon. He will have to undergo treatment for his alcohol use. _DR
