There are now photos to illustrate Greg Hardy’s domestic violence arrest, cringeworthy photos showing the physical damage the Cowboys defensive end was accused of inflicting upon his former girlfriend in May 2014.
In a scathing report that breaks down the volatile relationship between Hardy and former girlfriend Nicole Holder, the website Deadspin published a gallery of 48 photos — images that were sealed during last year’s trial — that show large bruises on the woman’s back, injuries to her arms, chin, neck, legs and feet.
Hardy originally was convicted in a bench trial, only for the verdict to be thrown out on appeal after Holder stopped cooperating. The two sides came to an agreement in a civil settlement in the North Carolina incident, prosecutors said. The charges were expunged from Hardy’s record this week. Hardy was suspended 10 games by the NFL, but after an appeal, his ban was reduced to four games by an arbitrator.
Deadspin obtained hundreds of pages of records from the case, revealing damning information on Hardy.
- Holder told cops she feared for her life on several occasions.
- Hardy told cops he was the one attacked and claimed Holder injured herself by flinging herself against the bathroom wall.
- Hardy told police he only had a handgun in the apartment. When he was arrested, 10 assault rifles were taken into evidence.
Shaunna Thomas, the co-founder of UltraViolet, a women’s advocacy organization, called on the Cowboys to get rid of Hardy.
“On the day Hardy assaulted Holder, she predicted inaction, and unless the Cowboys act, she will have been right,” Thomas said in a statement. “Nicole isn’t alone — one in four American women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime, and far too many women refrain from reporting because of the actions of people like Cowboys owner Jerry Jones — who has referred to a man who beats women as a ‘real leader.’ Enough.
“Women deserve better than this nauseating rally for violence by the Dallas Cowboys. We demand [team owner] Jerry Jones and the Cowboys release Hardy immediately, and join the growing movement to end the national epidemic of domestic violence once and for all.”
The NFL reportedly sued the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department to obtain images from the criminal case. The Cowboys, according to ESPN, never saw these photos before signing Hardy. But in a statement, Jones indicated the publication will not affect Hardy’s employment.
“While we did not have access to the photos that became public today, we were and are aware of the serious nature of this incident,” Jones said in a statement. “We as an organization take this very seriously. We do not condone domestic violence. We entered into the agreement with Greg fully understanding that there would be scrutiny and criticism. We have given Greg a second chance. He is a member of our team and someone who is grateful for the opportunity he has been given to move forward with his life and his career.”
The attack came on May 12 of last year, allegedly after a long evening of drinking. Holder, who originally refused to give details after fleeing the apartment complex, ultimately told Charlotte police that Hardy — then with the Carolina Panthers — assaulted her on previous occasions, but she didn’t report them because “he terrifies me,” according to an interview with detective Faye Strother.
According to records, Holder said Hardy snapped late that night, calling her a “slut” who ruined their relationship, pushing her and throwing her into the bathroom. She hit the back of the shower wall and fell into the bathtub. He then grabbed her by the hair and threw her onto a futon with several rifles on it. Hardy then began choking her.
From the transcript of another interview with Strother that night, Holder said when Hardy was strangling her, he said: “I should kill you.”
He eventually released his grip after Holder told him, “Kill me so I don’t have to,” and Hardy dialed 911 to begin relaying his version of that evening’s dire events: that Holder had attacked him.
In three games this year, the 27-year-old Hardy has three sacks, one run-in with a coach and one instance of praise from Jones as a “real leader.”