Under Florida law, violent acts between family members or people in a relationship can be charged as domestic violence. In a recent incident in South Florida, a 26-year-old woman was accused of stabbing her boyfriend multiple times with a knife. The boyfriend had two small wounds on his face and one on his hand. The woman was charged with one count of domestic battery.
According to the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, deputies went to the woman’s apartment at around 7 p.m. in response to a call. The boyfriend allegedly told deputies the couple started arguing after his dog ate the woman’s marijuana. He allegedly claimed that the woman started stabbing him.
The woman said that the couple argued over their plans for dinner, and that she pulled out the knife to defend herself after the man tried to prevent her from leaving the apartment. According to the arrest report, the woman claimed the man cut himself when he repeatedly walked into the knife.
Domestic violence charges can result in serious consequences. In addition to fines and potential jail time, the accused often agrees, early in the proceedings, to a temporary restraining order. Unfortunately the restraining order can often result in the accused being removed from their own home and denied any contact with their children. In addition, it becomes part of a person’s criminal record and can adversely affect their attempts to find employment or housing.
For this reason domestic assault charges must be defended aggressively. In many cases the victim’s story will be inconsistent with other evidence. In other cases the accused can successfully assert a claim of self-defense. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can help the accused evaluate their case and choose the best defense strategy.
Source: Sun-Sentinel, “Dania model accused of knifing boyfriend after his dog eats her marijuana,” Ihosvani Rodriguez, Oct. 21, 2013
