Alleged Victim Of Domestic Violence Faces Tough Questions In Court
BOSTON (CBS) - A state trooper is behind bars on charges he tried to strangle his girlfriend, but what happened when she leveled the accusations in court has abuse advocates angry.
The girlfriend, who is also a state trooper, told the court Trooper Robert Sundberg had been beating her for years, but then she faced tough questions from the defense attorney.
WBZ-TV's David Robichaud talked with an advocate for abuse victims who says the attorney tried to pin the blame on her -- and it's something that happens too often.
"I think what's really important, and it's hard, is not to blame the victim," says Jacquelin Apsler who runs The Domestic Violence Services Network.
She often sees the women being victimized again.
Defense attorney Richard Rafferty represents the suspended trooper. He says the alleged victim is making up the story because his client was about to break up with her. "She is claiming this historical abuse pattern, which is totally untrue," Rafferty said.
He's talking about the female trooper, Sundberg's former live-in girlfriend who says she finally left Sundberg after years of physical abuse.
"The strategy is a typical strategy, to make the plaintiff or victim look not credible," Apsler said.
The alleged victim told the judge Sundberg was a blackout drunk, used steroids, beat her for years.
She says she finally left him Saturday night after he allegedly tried to strangle her in their shared Boxboro apartment.
Rafferty asked if she was so afraid of him, why didn't she leave him or report him sooner.
"I did fail to disclose it but I understood the difficulty and the nature of what we do for work and how that would affect his family," the alleged victim said.
She also thought Sundberg was getting counseling.
This kind of situation is not uncommon. In law enforcement, studies show four in ten police families experience domestic violence.
If you need help with domestic violence, or someone you know does, visit: http://janedoe.org/