Yahoo’s Nick Cotsonika spoke with the woman involved in the Slava Voynov incident on Friday, confirming that she is his wife and is comfortable with that being known. Cotsonika revealed other key bits of information, including the fact that her take on the situation isn’t likely to be “radically different” from the argument Voynov’s own lawyer made this week.
She hasn’t spoken with the police since being released from the hospital and her current lawyer wasn’t present when Voynov’s lawyer interviewed her, according to what Cotsonika has been told.
Here are Cotsonika’s tweets on the subject, for the sake of clarity and greater detail:
Spoke to the lawyer representing the woman in Voynov case. He said she is his wife and OK with that being public. (1)
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) October 24, 2014
The lawyer for Voynov's wife said she has not spoken to police since the hospital and has not spoken to the NHL yet. (2)
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) October 24, 2014
The lawyer for Voynov's wife said he was not present when she was interviewed by Voynov's lawyer. (3)
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) October 24, 2014
The lawyer for Voynov's wife said her story will not be "radically different" to the one described by Voynov's lawyer. (4)
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) October 24, 2014
To be clear, the lawyer for Voynov's wife did not begin representing her until after she was interviewed by Voynov's lawyer. (5)
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) October 24, 2014
In case you missed it, here’s a quick synopsis of Voynov’s argument according to what his lawyer Craig Renetzky told The Hockey News.
- Voynov’s wife was hospitalized due to a “pure accident,” not an assault.
- “Mr. Voynov never hit the woman,” according to Renetzky.
- Renetzky believes that additional evidence will open the door for the league to lift the 24-year-old’s indefinite suspension.
Renetzky’s argument contrasts with the Redondo Beach Police Department’s report, which “determined that a crime of domestic violence did, in fact, occur.”
Thursday’s update revealed that Los Angeles County’s district attorney office seeks an “additional follow-up” before they make a decision regarding filing charges on Voynov.
Obviously, plenty of things - including an eventual decision from the league and/or Kings regarding Voynov’s status - are up in the air at the moment.
A court date is currently scheduled for Dec. 1.
More on the Voynov situation:
NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said the facts made the suspension an easy decision
The Kings and NHLPA both support the suspension
Would Los Angeles welcome Voynov back to their “special group?”