Reuben Foster was charged on April 12 with three felony counts, including one for domestic violence, after a February incident when a woman claimed that Foster punched her in the head eight to 10 times, rupturing her ear drum in the process. On Wednesday the same woman, Foster’s ex-girlfriend Elissa Ennis, took back those claims in a statement released through her attorney, now saying that Foster never assaulted her, and that she can prove he was not responsible for her injuries.
“(Foster) did not strike her, injure her or threaten her,” Ennis’ attorney Stephanie Rickard said in a statement via Matt Maiocco. ““She was extremely upset and told him if he broke up with her she would ‘trash his career.’”
Ennis now says that her injuries were caused by a physical altercation with another woman, and that Foster tried to break up with Ennis after hearing of the incident.
“Ennis apologizes to everyone that may have been harmed in this case, especially Mr. Foster,” Rickard said.
The 49ers took heat for not releasing Foster after he was charged with domestic violence by the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office on April 12. General manager John Lynch said earlier this week that the 49ers were going to keep Foster for the time being as the legal process played out, but that if “these charges are proven true, that if Reuben did indeed hit this young lady, he won’t be part of our organization going forward.
It is unclear at this time if the 49ers were aware of Ennis’ decision to recant her story, and what role that played in deciding not to release Foster.
