Stephanie Rickard, the attorney for 49ers LB Reuben Foster‘s girlfriend, said in a statement to the Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee that she initially lied to police and he did not injure her during the incident that occurred at his home in Los Gatos back in February.
“(Foster) did not strike her, injure her or threaten her,” said Rickard.
She says Foster tried to end the relationship with her, which led to the fight.
“She was extremely upset and told him if he broke up with her she would ‘trash his career,’” Rickard said.
According to Rickard, Foster’s girlfriend told local prosecutors that she wanted to recant but that the district attorney’s office filed charges anyway.
Foster was charged with domestic violence with the intent to inflict great bodily injury, forcefully attempted to prevent a victim from reporting a crime and possessed an assault weapon, which happen to all be felonies.
Legal experts tell Barrows that domestic violence cases in which the victim does not testify are more difficult to win but prosecutors can still move forward if there is other good evidence.
Barrows adds that Foster’s case may include evidence such as the 911 call on the day of the incident, the medical report from the hospital and any photographs that police took. The district attorney’s office also could call upon the motorist who helped the girlfriend as a witness.
Foster, 24, is a former first-round pick of the 49ers back in 2017. He’s entering the second year of his four-year, $9.03 million contract and stands to make base salaries of $875,708 and $1.28 million over the next two years of the agreement.
The 49ers will have a fifth-year option to pick up in 2020 that’s guaranteed for injury only.
In 2017, Foster appeared in 10 games and recorded 72 tackles, no sacks or interceptions and one pass defense. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 4 linebacker out of 88 qualifying players.
We’ll have more regarding 49ers and Foster as the news is available.
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