Charlie Sheen Could Still be Prosecuted, Even Without Wife's Testimony
ABC News reports that Charlie Sheen could still be prosecuted for holding a switchblade to his wife's throat and threatening to have her killed, even if his wife Brooke refuses to testify.
Brook Mueller may want a chance to work things out with husband Charlie Sheen in the wake of her claims that he threatened her with a switchblade, but experts say the seriousness of her accusations may get prosecutors involved even without her cooperation.
*****
even if Mueller is willing to reconcile with Sheen, prosecutors may choose to proceed with a court case without Mueller's testimony, noted criminal defense attorney Roy Black told "Good Morning America."
"There's no question they can proceed without her cooperation ...because they can use her statements, her 911 call," Black said.
Prosecutors would, however, have an easier time with Mueller's help, he said. Though Mueller told a 911 operator that Sheen had threatened her life with a knife, she was reportedly drunk at the time.
"How much can you rely upon what she said?" Black asked. "She says that he has a knife, he denies it. He says it's just an argument over the children, she says it's more than that."
Domestic violence expert Patti Giggans, executive director of the group Peace Over Violence, told "Good Morning America" that it's not uncommon for women to backpedal from their initial statements after a domestic violence incident.
"That spontaneous wanting safety is very sincere. And then when things settle down, in retrospect, they start to think, 'Well I want to preserve the relationship,'" Giggans said. "Or, 'It's the father of my children and I can't send the father of my children to jail.'"
In 1990 Charlie "accidentally" shot fiance Kelly Preston in the arm; the relationship ended soon afterwards. We've all heard those disgusting threatening voicemails he left for ex-wife Denise Richards. He's been in and out of rehab multiple times and then there's the whole Heidi Fleiss hooker thing.
Now reports say (which his rep denies) that he's offering Brooke $1 million if he stays out of jail and she stays married to him for now. But the Colorado District Attorney is not interested in Charlie Sheen's career -- in fact he's already triggered an investigation by the local child protective services. He may decide to proceed with the case, with or without Brooke's help.
