Judge Delays Decision in Leyritz Case
Former Yankee will stay in jail after alleged beating of ex-wife
By BRIAN HAMACHER
Updated 9:57 AM PST, Tue, Jul 7, 2009
A judge delayed his decision today on whether to let Jim Leyritz go free or await his upcoming DUI manslaughter trial in jail after the former Yankee slugger was arrested last week and accused of beating his ex-wife.
The latest brush with the law has Leyritz sitting in a Broward County jail cell after ex-wife Karrie accused Leyritz of punching her in the face during an argument over child support payments Thursday in their Davie home.
Leyritz denies the accusations, claiming Karrie was drunk and hurt herself because Leyritz is trying to evict her from the house the two share. Karrie gave conflicting reports of the alleged attack, according to the arrest report.
One of the couple's three children confirmed that Karrie had hurt herself in the past, according to the report. Responding police found Karrie with a gash above her eye that was bleeding.
Leyritz, 45, had been out on bond as he awaits trial for a fatal 2007 DUI car crash in Fort Lauderdale in which he killed Fredia Ann Veitch, who was returning home from her bartending job. Both Leyritz and Veitch were driving legally drunk, according to blood alcohol tests.
Leyritz's bond was revoked Friday after Judge Marc Gold ruled that the latest arrest violated the conditions of his release, though Gold noted that the battery case seems weak.
"The facts of this case frankly, there are a lot of contradictions within the police report," Gold said Friday. Lawyers in the case told Gold that they'd need over an hour to present their case today, prompting the judge to delay the hearing at least another day.
Leyritz is scheduled to go on trial on the manslaughter charge Sept. 14.
Copyright Associated Press / NBC Los Angeles
First Published: Jul 7, 2009 5:44 AM PST
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