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Case against Green dismissed
March 21, 2006
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- A misdemeanor domestic abuse charge against Green Bay Packers running back Ahman Green -- stemming from an argument with his wife last April -- was dismissed Tuesday, one day before he was to stand trial.
Green had been due for a pretrial conference Tuesday in Brown County Circuit Court on the charge of disorderly conduct, domestic abuse when the case was dismissed.
Brown County District Attorney John Zakowski said changing testimony and a lack of physical evidence, among other circumstances, would have made it difficult to convict Green.
"Given the extreme likelihood of an acquittal, I think ethically we were duty-bound to dismiss," he said.
Green, coming off an injury that caused him to miss much of last season, recently signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract with the Packers that includes many incentives based on his performance. The four-time Pro Bowl selection has been the Packers' starting halfback since 2001.
His wife, Heather, called authorities from their home during an argument last April 25. She told sheriff's deputies the two were arguing, and he slammed doors in the home, yelled loudly at her and hung up the phone as she tried to call for help and also on 911 operators when they called back, the criminal complaint said.
Green served his wife with divorce papers three days later.
However, he told The Associated Press in an interview in December that he and his wife were reconciling and attending marriage counseling, and he was withdrawing the divorce petition.
Green's lawyer Robert Janssen said Monday the couple is still together.
"Mr. Green is pleased with the decision of the District Attorney's Office," Janssen said. "He now wants to focus on his family life."
Green's lawyers worked out a continuance agreement in late August that allowed Green to avoid prosecution if he stayed out of trouble for a year, underwent violence counseling and did 100 hours of community service. But his lawyers informed the court last month they wanted to take the case to trial.
The charge carried up to 90 days in jail and a fine of $1,000.
Updated on Tuesday, Mar 21, 2006 6:23 pm EST
Case against Ahman Green dismissed
Case against Ahman Green dismissed
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