Suspended Voynov facing domestic violence charge
LOS ANGELES — Kings defenceman Slava Voynov was charged with felony domestic violence on Thursday by the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.
Voynov faces one felony count of corporal injury to a spouse with great bodily injury. In a statement providing the first public details of the incident, the district attorney’s office said Voynov “caused his wife to suffer injuries to her eyebrow, cheek and neck” during an argument at their home, several hours after the Kings won an afternoon game.
The 24-year-old Russian Olympian has been suspended since his arrest early Oct. 20 at a hospital in Torrance, Calif. He had taken his wife to the hospital for treatment of injuries from their home in nearby Redondo Beach.
Craig Renetzky, Voynov’s attorney, has repeatedly said his client didn’t hit his wife. Renetzky also said Voynov shouldn’t have been arrested, blaming a misunderstanding between police and Voynov’s wife, who speaks even less English than her husband.
“Mr. Voynov is extremely disappointed that the district attorney’s office elected to file charges,” Renetzky said. “Mr. Voynov maintains his innocence and looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Voynov was suspended indefinitely by the NHL before he even posted bail on the morning of his arrest. The Kings have wholeheartedly supported the league’s disciplinary actions.
“We are aware of the actions taken today in California, which we will review and evaluate before making any decisions,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said. “Until further notice, the current terms of Mr. Voynov’s suspension remain in place.”