Domestic violence charges are oftentimes prosecuted on their own merits. However, like many other criminal acts, domestic violence can be enhanced by other related charges if they were used to enact the act of domestic abuse. One of the most common enhancements to an abuse charge is strangulation.
To an outsider or someone who has been involved in a domestic violence case for the first time, domestic violence by strangulation may sound a little excessive. However, it has a lot of consequences that are not apparent at first glance. This has been touched upon before, but now would be a good time to review strangulation in domestic violence cases.
Defining Strangulation as a Domestic Violence Act
Simply put, strangulation is a form of physical assault aimed at a victim’s neck, often with the aim of cutting off their breathing. Underlying that, strangulation can also affect the supply of oxygen to the brain, which can have more dire consequences than merely choking due to a lack of air.
In a domestic violence context, strangulation is often cited as a direct and easy means by which an abuser can impose their will on a victim. They simply choke the abused to make them submit, either with their bare hands or through the use of implements like rope. This act is often done on its own, though in some cases it coincides with punching, kicking, and other severe forms of battery.
Why It Is One of the Most Severe Forms of Abuse
Many forms of domestic violence have their own effects on the victims. Constant verbal abuse can severely affect a person’s psychological and emotional well-being. Battery can lead to physical impairment in the most extreme cases. Sexual abuse can do both.
Domestic violence by strangulation stands out from the rest because it is a simple act with a higher chance of death than other forms of abuse. The abuser can restrict the flow of blood and oxygen to a person’s brain for an extended amount of time, which can lead to fatal consequences if it happens for more than just a few seconds. A misstep can even lead to a broken neck, which can either be an instant death or a slow and excruciating one, depending on the circumstances.
Why Strangulation is An Important Case to You
Domestic violence charges as a whole are a pretty tricky case to get through. There’s a lot of emotion involved, and there’s different angles for interpreting each party’s actions. Things get a further layer when physical action is involved.
Domestic violence by strangulation is one of the easiest forms of abuse to use and repeat, and one with the highest chance of fatalities. For all intents and purposes, domestic violence by strangulation is a step or two away from a homicide or murder charge, precisely because of the facts mentioned in the previous section. Tread carelessly, and the prosecution can paint your act as directly intent at killing their client.
The circumstances around a domestic violence by strangulation case are easy to misconstrue because of the consequences of such an act, as well as how it is viewed by all parties who witnessed the act. If you don’t want to get the short end of the stick, you must have a dependent domestic violence defense attorney with experience in handling strangulation complaints in your corner.