Kings' Slava Voynov pleads not guilty again to domestic violence charge
Suspended Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov pleaded not guilty at his re-arraignment for a felony domestic violence charge on Monday.
According to Larry Altman of the Daily Breeze, jury selection is set for March 2.
Voynov initially pleaded not guilty on Dec. 1 after he was charged with one felony count of corporal injury to a spouse in November. The charge stems from an Oct. 19 incident with his wife, Marta Varlamova, who told police that Voynov hit, choked and pushed her into a television during a fight in their bedroom following a Halloween party. According to Redondo Beach (Calif.) police, the resulting injury above Varlamova's left eye required eight stitches. Officer Gregory Wiist also said he saw blood on a comforter, a bloody handprint and blood on the floor.
At a preliminary hearing on Dec. 15, a judge ruled that there was enough evidence against Voynov for him to stand trial after he pleaded not guilty to felony count of corporal injury to a spouse with great bodily injury. If convicted, Voynov faces a maximum sentence of nine years in prison.
The NHL suspended Voynov indefinitely on Oct. 20 after his arrest. Voynov has missed 30 games thus far, matching the longest suspension in modern NHL history, which was served by New York Islanders forward Chris Simon after he stomped on the leg of Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jarkko Ruutu in 2007.
The league also fined the Kings $100,000 for violating the terms of Voynov's suspension on Dec. 2 after he was on the ice for a practice.
- Mike Fiammetta