Assault Case Postponed

Roberto Osuna was not at his domestic assault court date in Toronto today. The Toronto Blue Jays traded the pitcher to the Houston Astros on Monday, shortly before the end of a 75-game suspension imposed after Major League Baseball looked into the allegations from May.

His lawyer spoke on his behalf from court today.

His lawyer says Roberto Osuna will plead not guilty to domestic assault if the case gets that far, but he doesn’t expect it will. He says his client has nothing to be sorry about.

Rumours have surfaced about a picture that shows Osuna’s girlfriend badly beaten on the night of the alleged assault, but his lawyer says he’s not aware of it. Osuna has been charged with simple assault, which implies no serious bodily injury, and Osuna’s girlfriend is now in Mexico, which criminal lawyer Ari Goldkind says could mean the crown’s case is in trouble.

Osuna will be reporting to his new team, the Astros, as early as tomorrow. He could play as early as Sunday’s game in Los Angeles. Some Houston fans are not happy.

This case comes back to Toronto Old City Hall Court on September 5th, but Osuna’s lawyer hopes it will be resolved by then, without going to trial. Any criminal conviction would have serious consequences for Osuna’s new job in Houston.