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Attorney: Arrest a misunderstanding

NHL, Los Angeles Kings

LOS ANGELES -- Slava Voynov's attorney says the Kings defenseman never hit his girlfriend, and he blames Voynov's arrest on a misunderstanding partly caused by the couple's limited English.

Craig Renetzky is hopeful the NHL will end Voynov's indefinite suspension after reviewing the events that led to Voynov's arrest at a hospital near his home.

"From everything they've both said to me, this didn't amount to a crime," Renetzky said. "I think when the police understand what happened, their impression will be quite different."

Renetzky interviewed Voynov and his girlfriend extensively with help from a Russian interpreter. Without providing specific details, Renetzky said Voynov's girlfriend's injury resulted from "an accident."

"Slava never hit her," Renetzky said. "She was injured, but it's not a result of Slava punching her or anything remotely like that."

Renetzky said he thinks the language barrier hampered the initial police investigation and that the NHL was particularly swift to act because of recent incidents with domestic violence in professional sports. Renetzky claims this is a different scenario than the one that earned former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice an indefinite suspension from the NFL last month.

"I can't go into any details but I can tell you Mr. Voynov did not hit her," Renetzky told ESPN.com when reached by telephone Wednesday afternoon. "This is being painted with the same broad brush, basically with what came to light with the NFL, and it's nowhere near that. It's a totally different type of situation He didn't cold-cock her and drag her from an elevator."

Though investigators from the Redondo Beach Police Department met with members of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office today, no filing determination was made.

According to RBPD Lieutenant Joe Hoffman, the DA's office requested further investigation into the incident.

"The Police Department will continue to conduct our investigation in conjunction with the District Attorney's office to provide the documentation and evidence needed to evaluate the case and make a determination on the filing of charges," Hoffman told ESPN.com when reached via email Wednesday night.

Voynov isn't due in court again until Dec. 1. The NHL still suspended Voynov indefinitely with pay on Monday, an action firmly supported by the Kings.

Voynov and his girlfriend are still living together in Redondo Beach, a Los Angeles suburb, Renetzky said. Voynov is free on $50,000 bond.

"My hope is the courts and the league will look at what happened, what the reports show," Renetzky said. "My hope is the district attorney's office will keep an open mind, look at what the woman involved has said, and they're going to conclude there's no criminal activity. What truly scares me is Mr. Voynov will be the victim of a rush to judge him before the facts are evaluated."

Renetzky said he has been in contact with the NHL and the players' union to offer the couple's description of what happened. The Kings have 18 games before Voynov is due in court on Dec. 1, but Renetzky hopes the situation is resolved well before then.

"He's very anxious to get back on the ice," Renetzky said. "He's frustrated that he can't skate, that he can't be with the team."

The defending Stanley Cup champions' next game is Thursday at home against Buffalo.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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