LIHU‘E — A grand jury last week indicted Nicole Gonsalves on five counts stemming from an incident in the early hours of June 14 that left her boyfriend with a stab wound on his left leg. Judge Trudy Senda of
LIHU‘E — A grand jury last week indicted Nicole Gonsalves on five counts stemming from an incident in the early hours of June 14 that left her boyfriend with a stab wound on his left leg.
Judge Trudy Senda of the 5th District Court on Wednesday dismissed all seven charges against Gonsalves. The 25-year-old Lawa‘i woman will be arraigned today at 8 a.m. in 5th Circuit Court.
Gonsalves is being charged with first-degree burglary, second-degree assault, third-degree assault, first-degree terroristic threatening, first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and second-degree attempted murder.
The latter charge could land Gonsalves in jail for life with the possibility of parole.
“Gonsalves did intentionally engage in conduct which is a substantial step in a course of conduct intended or known to cause the death of Robert Ballard, thereby committing the offense of attempted murder in the second degree,” the grand jury indictment states.
The second-degree assault charge is being presented as an alternative to the attempted murder charge.
“Gonsalves did intentionally or knowingly cause bodily injury to Robert Ballard, with a dangerous instrument, to wit, a knife, thereby committing the offense of assault in the second degree,” the indictment states.
When the case was first heard in a preliminary hearing June 21, Ballard, 30, was in court to testify as a witness. He was dragging his injured leg, had two swollen eyes — one red and other purple — and a silver-dollar-size scrape on his left temple.
Convictions
Ballard and Gonsalves have a history of convictions and arrests on Kaua‘i.
Gonsalves, 5’2” and 214 lbs., was convicted April 5 of third-degree assault, a misdemeanor. She was sentenced to pay a $250 fine and $55 for a criminal injury compensation fee.
Ballard, 5’9” and 180 lbs., was convicted Sept. 7, 2010, of fourth-degree theft, a petty misdemeanor. He was sentenced to 50 hours of community service.
Ballard was also arrested on Nov. 19, 2009, for family abuse, but no charges were filed, according to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@ thegardenisland.com.
