Case Result: Domestic Assault Resulting in Strangulation and Suffocation Dismissed

Jurisdiction: Haverhill District Court

Date: November 2024

Case Background:

Our client faced serious allegations flowing from a domestic violence altercation, including charges of strangulation, assault and battery on a family or household member, and assault with dangerous weapons (shod foot and a metal object). The charges stemmed from a June 2024 domestic incident, with police and medical reports alleging that the complainant had sustained injuries, including a fractured rib. The case was primed for trial, with substantial penalties on the line should a conviction result.

Defense Strategy and Results:

Our defense strategy focused on recasting our client as the victim in this case. Our investigation revealed that the alleged victim instigated the incident and that any injuries she sustained flowed from our client’s lawful exercise of his right of self-defense. We highlighted evidence from the crime scene which showed that the alleged victim, in a jealous rage, threw an item at our client and threatened to stab him with a knife. It was this very evidence, we contended, that led her to claim she was the victim when, in fact, she was the aggressor.

With a trial date set, our thorough preparation and strong defense stance pressured the prosecution, leading them to drop all charges against Mr. Guzman rather than proceed to trial. This outcome spared Mr. Guzman from the risks of conviction and enabled him to avoid further impact on his personal and professional life.