Woman acquitted of assault charges in Reykjanes District Court

A woman has been acquitted of charges of assaulting her former husband, the father of her child. The ruling, delivered by a judge in Reykjanes District Court, noted that it was unlikely the man was defenseless against her, given he was larger and stronger.

The police had charged the woman for allegedly attacking her former husband outside her home, repeatedly striking him in the face, which resulted in superficial injuries, a sprain, and other effects from the altercation.

The woman denied the accusations. The court details indicated that the man approached her home, which prompted a disagreement regarding child support. The judgment highlighted that “everything suggests their exchange was not friendly, and likely both contributed to the situation.”

The woman explained that she was startled by the noise outside and stepped out to investigate, where a confrontation ensued. She claimed she repeatedly asked him to leave, and when he didn’t comply, she pushed him, potentially brushing her hand against his face. She insisted that her actions could not have caused any injury.

The man claimed he was bringing his daughter’s bicycle and alleged that he feared her during the encounter, stating she struck him multiple times. He recounted being pinned against a wall, unable to evade her blows.

The woman’s cohabitant testified that he witnessed the father threatening the woman, which led to escalating tensions. However, he stated he did not see any violence from the woman.

The judge emphasized the significant height difference between the two involved and concluded that it was improbable the woman could have struck the man several times without him defending himself, thus deeming the injuries minor and suggesting they could have resulted from something other than an assault.