April 4, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Prosecutors urge judge to make LA Kings’ player’s wife testify

Courtesy Image
Courtesy Image

In documents filed Monday, prosecutors urged a Los Angeles Superior Court judge to rule that Slava Voynov’s wife must testify in the case against the Los Angeles Kings defenseman, while her attorney argued that the law is intended to protect victims of domestic violence from being forced to testify.

Prosecutors said they were not asking the court to jail Voynov’s wife for not taking the stand, but asked the judge to order her to give testimony in private and to find her in contempt if she refused.

“The people simply ask the court to exercise all available powers to have a properly subpoenaed witness testify,” read the document in part.

Voynov is accused of punching his wife at a Halloween party and later kicking and choking her at their Redondo Beach home in October.

Police had initially responded to the couple’s residence and found nobody home, but later were called to Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, where Voynov’s wife, Marta Varlamova, was being treated.

Varlamova’s attorney Michael J. Walsh has said repeatedly that she does not want to testify against her husband and in his document, cited his client’s rights under California Civil Code Section 1219(b).

That section provides in part that: “… a court shall not imprison of otherwise confine or place in custody the victim of a sexual assault or domestic violence crime for contempt if the contempt consists of refusing to testify.”

Walsh argued that being jailed for contempt would amount to further victimization and would likely dissuade other victims from coming forward to report domestic violence, which is already an under-reported crime. Even a $1,000 fine would be “extreme,” he said.

Both sides agreed that the court could refer the victim to a domestic violence counselor for consultation.

Prosecutors said the court could take other steps to “induce” and “encourage” Varlamova to testify.

Noting that victims’ statements are often critical to making a case, the prosecutors argued that the victim should be made to testify.

“Either the victim is truthful and the jury hears of the abuse or the defendant’s confrontation rights are honored when the victim recants and prior statements are immediately admissible,” according to the prosecution’s document. Those prior statements would likely include comments Voynov’s wife made to hospital workers.

Walsh argued that if his client refused to be sworn, the court should “simply find her ‘unavailable’ and move on with the proceedings.”

A hearing on the issue is set for next Monday and the deadline for filing documents was noon today, according to a court clerk. The documents, if any, filed by Voynov’s attorney Blair Berk were not available through the court’s Public Information Office, who said the judge was reviewing filings in the case. A call to Berk was not immediately returned.

Walsh said Varlamova is concerned about her privacy and personal well- being.

“She has legitimate concerns about her privacy and her personal well- being and desires to avoid, among other things, the emotional trauma, embarrassment and destruction of her privacy that would result from being compelled to testify in this case,” Walsh wrote.

“… Ms. Varlamova simply wants to be left alone, and to that end, she is not willing to be sworn and called upon to answer any questions.”

Deputy District Attorney Frank Dunnick has insisted, however, that she has no right to refuse to testify in the case, noting that she was not claiming a Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, and she had no privilege as Voynov’s wife.

Voynov is charged with a single count of corporal injury to a spouse with great bodily injury.

Redondo Beach police Officer Gregory Wiist testified at a preliminary hearing that Varlamova told him she had been in a fight with her husband that began at a Halloween party the night of Oct. 19. When the couple went outside, Voynov punched her in the face, according to Wiist.

Varlamova told the officer that the couple went home, where the argument continued, and Voynov threw her to the ground multiple times, repeatedly kicked her and choked her three times. Varlamova also said her husband pushed her into a flat-screen television on the wall, and her face struck the corner of it, Wiist said.

Varlamova said the attack continued until Voynov saw the blood coming from her face, according to Wiist. He said that according to Varlamova, she asked Voynov to call for “emergency services,” but he instead called a friend and then drove her to the hospital.

The injury to Varlamova’s eye required eight stitches, Wiist said.

Voynov has been suspended indefinitely by the National Hockey League.

Related Posts

Scoop Dreams Come True: Van Leeuwen Launches New Beverly Hills Shop

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Van Leeuwen’s Beverly Hills Opening Comes With Sweet Perks Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, a New York City-born brand celebrated for...

WeHo’s WeHappy Wednesdays Serve Up Big Discounts In Addition to Zero Parking Fees

April 3, 2025

April 3, 2025

Free Parking and $5 Cocktails? WeHo Makes Wednesdays Worth It The City of West Hollywood and the West Hollywood Chamber...

Saijo Hand Roll Rolls into Culver City with Premium Japanese Ingredients

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Binchotan-Fired Perfection: Saijo Rolls Out Premium Sushi in West LA A new destination for hand rolls and Japanese culinary craftsmanship...

(Video) Check Out Bernie’s, a New Pop Up at Citizen Public Market in Culver City

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Made with fresh frozen fruit and a toasted merengue topping these flavors are irresistible. The pop up will be at...

From Cocktails to Coffee: U.S. Tariffs Threaten Imports, Jobs, and Your Grocery Bill

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Major Price Hikes Expected for Coffee, Wine, Chocolate, and Butter  A sweeping new set of tariffs announced by former President...

Levain Bakery to Open Venice Location with Special Guests and Charitable Twist

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Bigger Than a Cookie: Levain’s Venice Opening Is a Flavorful Fundraiser Levain Bakery, the cult-favorite cookie destination founded in New...

LAX Airport Server Finds Hate-Filled Message From Unidentified Diners

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Waiter Says He Was Stunned by the Message Left by Customers Guillermo Ortiz, who works at Planet Hollywood inside the...

Sunset Strip Staple Le Petit Four Shuts Down After Landlord Pulls the Plug

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

End of an Era: Le Petit Four Forced to Close in West Hollywood In a stunning reversal to the upbeat...

Metro LA Pushes Back Sepulveda Transit Community Meetings

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

Environmental Review Delay Prompts Metro to Reschedule  Metro announced that community meetings scheduled for early April to discuss the Sepulveda...

WeHo Unveils ‘WeHappy Wednesdays’ to Support Shops and Restaurants

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

New West Hollywood Plan Makes Midweek Outings Easier and Cheaper In a bid to boost foot traffic and economic recovery...

County Board Approves New Homeless Agency, Redirecting Millions from Existing System

April 2, 2025

April 2, 2025

With Billions on the Line, LA County Moves to Centralize Homeless Response Los Angeles County is making a dramatic shift...

Put the Phone Down: LAPD and CHP Targets Distracted Drivers in April Crackdown

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Hands-Free Law Violations Could Now Cost You More Than Just a Fine Throughout April, the Los Angeles Police Department will...

Kim Delaney, Partner Cleared After Weekend Arrest in Marina del Rey

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Emmy-Winning Actress and Partner James Morgan Released Kim Delaney, the Emmy-winning actress recognized for her roles in NYPD Blue and...

(Video) Spending an Afternoon at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Go To Pacpark.com For Tickets and More Information. Go To https://t.co/HneRcysYh5 For Tickets and More Information. #amusementpark #rides #rollercoaster #summer...

Matū Kai to Debut in Brentwood With Grass Fed Wagyu and Global Flair This Week

April 1, 2025

April 1, 2025

Farm-To-Fork Beef, Wood-Fired Flavors, and Sustainability Meet on San Vicente The team behind Beverly Hills’ acclaimed steakhouse Matū will soon...