The Sun Sentinel reports that a newlywed Broward woman was charged with domestic battery only hours after getting married.
Police said that the accused attacked her husband and bit him.
The couple told authorities they got married Saturday.
They were celebrating Saturday night at the W hotel in Fort Lauderdale, then went to a nightclub, according to a Lighthouse Point police affidavit released Monday.
About 8:30 a.m. Sunday, two officers responded to a 911 call from the couple's home.
The husband allegedly told the officers he did not want his wife to go to jail and went to her bond court hearing Monday morning. He asked the judge for leniency, saying she may have been under the influence of alcohol at the time.
Broward County Judge John "Jay" Hurley set her bond at $4,500, and issued a stay-away order.
It doesn't seem as if the alleged victim wants to be a witness against his new wife. However, Florida is a "no drop" state, meaning that prosecutors will proceed in domestic violence cases even if the victim is "not on board."
Prosecutors may be able to prove that a crime occurred even without the alleged victim's testimony. Evidence such as photographs, eyewitness testimony, and 911 tapes (under certain circumstances) are commonly used in prosecutions where the alleged victim never sets foot inside of the courtroom.
Don't make the mistake of thinking that your domestic violence case will just go away because the alleged victim is not on board with the prosecution. People are convicted all the time without the testimony of their accuser.
I am a criminal defense attorney serving Miami-Dade and Broward. I handle criminal domestic violence cases at both the misdemeanor and felony level. Call today to discuss your case or the case of a loved one.