Greg Hardy domestic violence charges dismissed after accuser isn't found

Prosecutors have dismissed domestic violence charges against Carolina Panthers defensive end and soon-to-be free agent Greg Hardy after they said the accuser in the case couldn't be found.

Hardy's appeal in the case was set to begin Monday in Charlotte, N.C. But Mecklenburg County district attorney Andrew Murray told the judge that officials attempted many times to contact the woman, but failed.

Murray said Hardy had a reached a civil suit agreement with the woman. Hardy and his attorney left the courthouse and did not answer questions.

Hardy, whose NFL future is uncertain, left with his attorney and did not answer questions. Moments before court convened, Hardy appeared calm, tweeting that he was would be giving away a pair of his game cleats to a fan who could name his favourite colour, his favourite president and his favourite NBA player.

Hardy was convicted last July 15 of assault on a female and communicating threats after the victim claimed the six-foot-four, 275-pound lineman threw her in the bathtub and on a sofa covered with guns before threatening to kill her.

He looked me in my eyes and he told me he was going to kill me. I was so scared I wanted to die.- Alleged victim of Panthers DE Greg Hardy

Murray told Superior Court Judge Robert T. Sumner that law enforcement had taken "extraordinary" measures to find the accuser so that she could testify during the appeal. He said they took surveillance of her new address, attempted to find her at work and tried to contact relatives but couldn't locate her.

The woman's attorney also would not share information about her location, he said.

The accuser had testified on July 15 that she was scared of Hardy and worried about her safety if she went to police.

"He looked me in my eyes and he told me he was going to kill me," the woman testified on July 15. "I was so scared I wanted to die. When he loosened his grip slightly, I said just, `Do it. Kill me."'

In his testimony, Hardy refuted that accusation.

He testified that he never hit nor threw the accuser, and didn't threaten her. Hardy said the woman became angry when he wouldn't have sex with her and he left the room to sleep in the living room.

Panthers general manager Dave Gettleman did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment on the dismissal. Team spokesman Steve Drummond said it's possible the team could have a statement at a later time.

Off active roster

Last September, the Panthers removed Hardy from the active roster until his case was resolved.

At the time, Gettleman said Hardy would continue to be paid, was allowed to be at the team facility but would not practice.

Hardy, who was tagged as the team’s franchise player last off-season and signed a one-year, $13.1-million US deal, is considered Carolina’s top pass rusher.

He's scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March and it's uncertain if the Panthers will try to re-sign him.

It's also unclear if the NFL will hand down any punishment against Hardy based on his original conviction. Hardy had faced a possible six-game suspension under NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's toughened stance on domestic violence following the Ray Rice ordeal.

League spokesman Greg Aiello said in an email Monday to The Associated Press that Hardy remains on the commissioner's exempt list.

"His status remains unchanged until we fully review the matter," Aiello said in the email.