Caine, Azarkh win DV trial

Attorneys Sedi Caine and Katherine Azarkh won a domestic violence trial for a client who was arrested after his girlfriend claimed to have been assaulted multiple times.

Despite the fact she had no visible injuries or anything to support her claims, deputies from the Clark County Sheriff’s Office arrested the client for felony assault.

The Clark County Prosecutor’s Office, seemingly recognizing the lack of evidence, opted to file only misdemeanor charges.

On Sept. 12, 2024, jurors in Clark County District Court agreed there wasn’t even enough evidence to support a misdemeanor conviction and voted to acquit the client.

The alleged victim claimed that she had been followed around her home and choked her three separate times for a total of 15 minutes.

The client had told deputies that nothing happened. 

At trial, Caine argued that the evidence presented by the state did not support the claim that any domestic disturbance had occurred. 

The arresting officer testified that he observed no signs of strangulation, that the home was very clean and that he ultimately made the arrest with no evidence other than what the girlfriend said happened.  

In closing argument, Azarkh stressed to jurors that it was unrealistic that a person could be strangled for 15 minutes and not have any marks or other signs of injury. She argued that the story just didn't add up and therefore left plenty of doubt as to the prosecutor's case. 

The jury deliberated for less than an hour before returning a verdict of not guilty.

Had the client been convicted of assault in the fourth degree, a gross misdemeanor, he faced up to one year in jail.