From the Las Cruces Sun-Times in New Mexico, is a report of a couple’s abusive relationship that culminated in the man having his lip bitten off, dropped onto the ground, and leaving him with 20 stitches instead.
K.T., 35, had walked away from an argument that he was having with his girlfriend, A.L.R., 26, while the two had been staying at the Coachlight Motel on Motel Boulevard on May 1. He had hoped that while he was gone some of the anger would diffuse.
But, when K.T. returned to their shared room, he found A.L.R. packing her things.
As the two stepped outside of the hotel room’s door, she surprised him with an attack that left him bitten and bleeding.
K.T. said of the assault, “That's when she reached over and bit off my lip. I pushed her off me and over the car. It was just a few seconds. I didn't even know my lip was gone until the police came over.”
While his mouth swelled, his lip was retrieved from the pavement and placed on ice. He was then taken to the University Medical Center in El Paso for treatment – but reattaching the lip proved impossible.
K.T. said, “As soon as we got there, they called the surgeon and he said he wasn't going to be able to put it back on.”
A.L.T. was already convicted once for battery against K.T. a year ago. She is currently on probation for that conviction.
After the incident A.L.T. was located sleeping in a school playground where she surrendered to police and was jailed. She now faces a felony charge of aggravated battery against a household member causing great bodily injury.
She is currently being held at the Do-a Ana County Detention Center.
Her bond is set at $8,000.
The case, now considered severe, will most likely go before a Do-a Ana County grand jury in the 3rd Judicial court.
The case is expected to be heard in the next few weeks.
K.T. is planning to move to Albuquerque and stay with family while he recovers.
K.T. doesn’t have health insurance and says that will make it difficult for him. He is waiting for a victim’s program to kick in benefits – six months is the estimate for medical aid to be approved and longer if he requires treatment.
He said, “I ain't going to run around looking like this for that long, without insurance, it's real hard.”
He also stated that he has ended the 2 ½ year-long relationship. He contended that he never wants to be a victim again.
K.T. said, “I still love her. I don't want to see her go to prison, but I can't keep going through this. She beat me up more than once. I can’t say that I haven't hit her back, because I have - I did hold her down and keep her calm.”
L.H., K.T.’s mother came to Las Cruces to help him move out and to take him to doctor appointments. L.H. said of her son’s dilemma, “A lot of people have the perception, ‘Well, she's so tiny, how come he can't hold her off?’”
Batterer Intervention Program coordinator for the La Casa domestic violence shelter in Las Cruces, Pat Acosta, said, “We've always known that domestic violence doesn't discriminate, there are male aggressors as well as female offenders.”
Any type of domestic violence, whether aimed at a man or a woman, is a chargeable crime. Contact a Family Law attorney today for help!