CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Domestic violence charges against Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy have been dismissed, with his accuser not making herself available to help with the case, prosecutors announced Monday.
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<cite>AP Photo/Mike McCarn</cite>Domestic violence charges against Greg Hardy have been dismissed.
Hardy's appeal of the 2014 conviction was scheduled to begin Monday morning at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, but his accuser, ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder, did not show up for the hearing.
In a statement explaining the decision to dismiss charges, the district attorney's office said it has "reliable information" that Holder and Hardy have reached a civil settlement and that she has "intentionally made herself unavailable to the State."
"Without her testimony, in this particular instance, the State could not proceed," the district attorney's office said.
Hardy requested the jury trial July 15 after Mecklenburg District Court Judge Rebecca Thorne Tin found the 2013 Pro Bowl selection guilty of assaulting and threatening Holder. Under North Carolina law, his appeal set aside the guilty verdict.
Prosecutors last spoke with Holder in November, and at that time she indicated she wasn't interested in participating in another trial. She has not spoken with them since then, they said in the statement.
Hardy left the courthouse without comment.
He played only one game last season but received $13.1 million from Carolina after being designated the franchise tag in February.
Hardy was placed on the inactive roster in Week 2, days after the NFL's climate regarding domestic violence changed with the release of a video showing then-Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice hitting his then-fiancée Janay Palmer in a casino elevator.
Hardy was placed on the commissioner's exempt list before Week 3 until his case was resolved. General manager Dave Gettleman said after the July 15 verdict that "what's happened with Greg is very concerning and disappointing."
"His status remains unchanged until we fully review the matter," the NFL said Monday.
A Panthers spokesman said the team has no comment until it has reviewed all the facts.
Despite the charges being dismissed, sources told ESPN.com the Panthers are not expected to pursue Hardy once he becomes an unrestricted free agent on March 10.
Hardy would have been subject to a minimum six-week suspension by the NFL under the league's new code of conduct policy if he would have been found guilty.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter contributed to this report.
[+] Enlarge
<cite>AP Photo/Mike McCarn</cite>Domestic violence charges against Greg Hardy have been dismissed.Hardy's appeal of the 2014 conviction was scheduled to begin Monday morning at the Mecklenburg County Courthouse, but his accuser, ex-girlfriend Nicole Holder, did not show up for the hearing.
In a statement explaining the decision to dismiss charges, the district attorney's office said it has "reliable information" that Holder and Hardy have reached a civil settlement and that she has "intentionally made herself unavailable to the State."
"Without her testimony, in this particular instance, the State could not proceed," the district attorney's office said.
Hardy requested the jury trial July 15 after Mecklenburg District Court Judge Rebecca Thorne Tin found the 2013 Pro Bowl selection guilty of assaulting and threatening Holder. Under North Carolina law, his appeal set aside the guilty verdict.
Prosecutors last spoke with Holder in November, and at that time she indicated she wasn't interested in participating in another trial. She has not spoken with them since then, they said in the statement.
Hardy left the courthouse without comment.
He played only one game last season but received $13.1 million from Carolina after being designated the franchise tag in February.
Hardy was placed on the inactive roster in Week 2, days after the NFL's climate regarding domestic violence changed with the release of a video showing then-Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice hitting his then-fiancée Janay Palmer in a casino elevator.
Hardy was placed on the commissioner's exempt list before Week 3 until his case was resolved. General manager Dave Gettleman said after the July 15 verdict that "what's happened with Greg is very concerning and disappointing."
"His status remains unchanged until we fully review the matter," the NFL said Monday.
A Panthers spokesman said the team has no comment until it has reviewed all the facts.
Despite the charges being dismissed, sources told ESPN.com the Panthers are not expected to pursue Hardy once he becomes an unrestricted free agent on March 10.
Hardy would have been subject to a minimum six-week suspension by the NFL under the league's new code of conduct policy if he would have been found guilty.
ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter contributed to this report.
