Slava Voynov's wife doesn't want charges filed, lawyer says
The wife of suspended Los Angeles Kings defenseman Slava Voynov has said through her lawyer that her husband should not be charged with domestic abuse for the incident that prompted her to seek medical treatment Oct. 19.
After previously accepting anonymity that is customary in domestic abuses, Marta Varlamova is allowing her name to be used and is confirming that she is Voynov's wife. They were married late this summer.
"They are still together. They did not separate," attorney Michael J. Walsh told Paste BN Sports. "They are married, intend to remain married and are doing fine."
Walsh said his client wanted her name publicized because of false rumors that were circulating.
"After persistent reports of an unnamed woman when everyone back home (in Russia) knew he was married to Marta, people kept drawing incorrect assumptions about the identity of the woman with Slava," Walsh said. "… People were spreading stories based on their incorrect assumptions."
Walsh said Varlamova doesn't want her husband charged because she doesn't believe he was trying to hurt her.
"No one has asked her opinion at the district attorney's office," Walsh said. "But if she were asked by the district attorney, she would say she was shocked to see him arrested in the first place."
Voynov's attorney Craig Renetzky said last week that Voynov's wife wanted her husband in the room when she talked to police to help translate, but he was not allowed in. Voynov speaks better English than Varlamova. Walsh said that was also his understanding of events.
After police interviewed Varlamova at the hospital, Voynov was arrested on suspicion of domestic abuse. The Los Angeles County District attorney office has asked the Redondo Beach Police Department to do more investigating before it decides whether Voynov will be charged.
The NHL has already suspended Voynov indefinitely pending its own investigation of what happened at Voynov's home after the Kings defeated the Minnesota Wild 2-1 at the Staples Center. Walsh said he has not yet talked to the police, although he hoped to Monday.
"California law doesn't require the police or district attorney to take into account the wishes of the person they are identifying as the victim," Walsh said. "I don't know if they are going to give any weight at all to her (wishes) or if they will give great weight to it. It depends on the district and the individual circumstances of each case."
Voynov's first scheduled court date is Dec. 1, meaning the police have until then to complete their investigation. Voynov, 24, is the Kings' No. 2 defenseman, and he has already missed two games. The Kings have 16 more games before Dec. 1.
Voynov's suspension is not tied to the criminal investigation. The NHL will make its decision whether to continued the suspension based on its own investigation.
Walsh only offers general detail, not specifics, about what prompted his client to seek treatment at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, Calif., late on the evening of Oct. 19.
"The injury itself was not the result of any attempt on Slava's part to hurt her," Walsh said. "And she believes he was not trying to hurt her."
Walsh did say that Varlamova was "not struck, or slapped or punched or anything like that."
Asked about her medical condition, Walsh said: "She is doing OK. I saw her last on Thursday and she looked pretty good."