Slava Voynov appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court for a preliminary hearing on Monday, December 15th. Judge Hector M. Guzman ruled there is enough evidence for a case, regarding the felony domestic violence charges levied at Voynov.
The 24-year-old, Voynov, was officially charged with felony Domestic Violence on November 20th by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. The charge is one felony count of corporal injury to a spouse with great bodily injury involving an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of October 20th.
Voynov entered a plea of Not Guilty on December 1st at his arraignment.
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Judge Guzman denied motions by Voynov’s attorney’s, Craig Renetzky and Pamela Mackey, to dismiss the case and to drop the charges down to a misdemeanor.
Though Voynov’s wife, Marta Varalamova, did not want charges pressed against her husband the law in California rules that domestic violence is considered a crime against the state. Marta was not in attendance at Monday’s preliminary proceeding.
Prosecutors laid out a gory scene at the Voynov house.
The only witness called during the preliminary hearing was the officer who responded to the call, on October 20th, from the Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrence, where Marta Varalamova was treated.
Redondo Beach Police Officer Gregory Wiist testified that on two occasions Varalamova told him that Voynov punched her during a Halloween party, and that the altercation continued when the two returned home.
Los Angeles Times reporter Nathan Fenno, and Orange County Register’s Rich Hammond were in the court’s audience recording quotes from the testimony.
Officer said argument started at party where Voynov punched wife, then continued/escalated at couple’s house
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) December 15, 2014
Officer: Voynov's wife required eight stitches to close wound above left eye.
— Nathan Fenno (@nathanfenno) December 15, 2014
Officer: "There's bruising, red marks, scratches on the victim's neck."
— Nathan Fenno (@nathanfenno) December 15, 2014
Officer: Voynov pushed wife to ground multiple times, kicked her repeatedly while on ground, chocked her three times.
— Nathan Fenno (@nathanfenno) December 15, 2014
Officer: Voynov pushed her into flat-screen TV where she cut her face.
— Nathan Fenno (@nathanfenno) December 15, 2014
At Voynov's home, the officer noted blood all over bedroom, including covering comforter and a bloody handprint on floor.
— Nathan Fenno (@nathanfenno) December 15, 2014
Among recorded comments attributed to Voynov's wife: "He kicked me here" and "Here he pushed me." #Kings #NHL
— Nathan Fenno (@nathanfenno) December 15, 2014
From gathered information it sounds like Prosecutors are alleging the following story-line explaination: Voynov struck Varalamova at a party in public. The altercation/argument continued when they arrived at the home. Voynov persisted, shoving, pushing, hitting, and choking his wife. After one particular shove Varalamova was thrown with considerable force, hitting her face on the corner of a flat-screen television in the couple’s living room. The blow cut Varalamova above her left eye. After trying to recover and stop the bleeding Voynov took his wife to Little Company of Mary Hospital, where she was treated and the couple waited until the police arrived, at which point in time Voynov was taken into custody.
Voynov’s attorney, Pamela Mackey (who is well-known for defending Kobe Bryant when he was charged with rape), cross-examined Officer Wiist, asking why he chose not to use an interpreter when speaking with Marta Varalamova, who speaks an elementary form of broken English.
Lastly, Judge Guzman denied a letter from Varalamova from being entered into evidence. The letter alleges the incident was an accident.
The judge didn't allow Voynov's attorneys to enter a letter from Varlamova into evidence saying that the alleged incident was an accident.
— Nathan Fenno (@nathanfenno) December 15, 2014
Lead Prosecutor, and Deputy District Attorney Frank Dunnick suggested this is not the first time Slava has raised his hands to his wife Marta. Dunnick claims there is proof, but nothing was released today, and Voynov and his team of attorney’s declined to comment on the matter.
In court, the lead prosecutor, Frank Dunnick, said "there's evidence to suggest prior domestic violence" involving Voynov. #Kings #NHL
— Nathan Fenno (@nathanfenno) December 15, 2014
Voynov could face up to nine-years in prison, and as a Russian citizen could face permanent deportation. Voynov’s next court date, his arraignment, is scheduled for December 29th. Voynov will continue to be suspended from the NHL, with pay, indefinitely.
We’ll continue to follow the story as court proceedings continue and more details become available.
Dec 14, 2013; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov (26) during warmup prior to game against Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre. Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports