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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Ex-girlfriend claims ex-Stamp attacked her when she tried to 'shoo him'

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 02/8/2013 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

CALGARY -- The former girlfriend of a one-time CFL all-star testified Thursday that he tried to choke and smother her when she came home and found him in her bed.

Kaitlin Ward, 27, testified she dated Calgary Stampeders running back Joffrey Reynolds for six years before ending their relationship in December 2011 after discovering he had been cheating on her.

She said they were still friends and were trying to determine if they could "salvage" their relationship when she allowed him to stay with her for a couple of days last July after his house went into foreclosure.

Ward said she told Reynolds he had to get out while the two were at a party put on by Stamps receiver Nik Lewis at a bar. She said Reynolds got angry and kicked her in the back of the leg.

When she went home later, she said, he was there waiting for her.

"I was shocked," said Ward. "I went by the front door to shoo him out. That's when he kind of tackled me."

Ward told Judge Brian Stevenson that Reynolds was sitting on top of her.

"He's smothering my mouth and choking me. Shoving his chin into my neck," she said softly. "I was gasping for air at that point."

Ward said Reynolds was yelling at her while he had his hands around her neck.

"He said: 'You're not so tough now that you're alone. What are you going to do?' " she recalled.

Reynolds pulled her to her feet by her hair and then knocked her to the floor again, Ward testified.

"He kind of jumped from behind and put his knee into my back and started choking me again."

She said Reynolds started to calm down when she told him he could stay with her and they went to bed.

Reynolds was charged with assault causing bodily harm, common assault and breaking and entering with intent.

Reynold's lawyer, Randi Collins, questioned the injury to Ward's back. Collins pointed out the running back is 5-10 and Ward is 6-5.

-- The Canadian Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 8, 2013 C5

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