Prosecutors drop domestic violence charge against Bruins veteran Milan Lucic
On the first day of Lucic's trial, prosecutors dropped the assault and battery charge after his wife invoked her marital privilege and declined to testify.
Prosecutors dismissed the assault case against Boston Bruins veteran Milan Lucic on Friday morning, after his wife refused to testify against him.
The hockey forward, who played for the Bruins from 2007-2015 and re-joined the team on a one-year contract in July, was accused of assaulting his wife in their North End condo in November.
The 35-year-old was arrested following the Nov. 18 altercation, but pleaded not guilty at his arraignment.
More on the case:
After Lucic’s arrest, the Bruins announced that he would be taking an indefinite leave of absence from the team.
Lucic was scheduled to stand trial on a single charge of assault and battery in Boston Municipal Court on Friday morning. However, according to Assistant District Attorney Christopher Boutin, Brittany Lucic invoked her marital privilege, choosing not to testify against her spouse.
The prosecution’s motion to admit 911 call information into evidence was denied, and without Brittany Lucic’s testimony, they determined they could not prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
According to James Borghesani, Chief of Communications for the Suffolk County District Attorney, this is a common situation prosecutors encounter in domestic violence cases.
“We handled this case exactly as we would any other presenting a similar set of circumstances,” Borghesani said.
Lucic left Brooks Courthouse Friday around 10:48 a.m., declining to speak to reporters.
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