Woman may face perjury charge

A woman who claimed she was so drunk she couldn?t recall what happened on the night her boyfriend was charged with beating her brought the ire of Judge Larry Ross on Tuesday, with the judge estimating perjury charges may be in her future if she tells the same story later at trial.

The defendant in the case, Hollis Pitman, was bound to the grand jury Tuesday on domestic violence charges after his girlfriend?s testimony, which would have exonerated him, was found not credible by Judge Ross. Instead, Ross believes the officer who said there was evidence of abuse found when he answered the 911 call.

?I was so far gone I don?t remember what happened,? said Carol Clark during her time on the stand, admitting she took a swing at the defendant the night in question but couldn?t remember what she told 911 or police.

However, when forced to read the statement she wrote with her own hand the night of the incident, Clark read that she claimed to have been grabbed by the throat after her boyfriend became mad about her flirting earlier at a party.

?Hollis would never hurt me,? Clark claimed from the stand, saying she mistook a hug from behind from her boyfriend to be a choke, prompting her to turn and swing at him. ?I guess I panicked because I couldn?t breath and I?d just got out of an abusive relationship.?

Clark maintains police coerced her into making the claims against her boyfriend, prompting prosecutors to question why her memory was so good when it came to answering questions from the defense but so poor when it came to prosecution questions.

?Is it your practice to lie to police officers?? questioned assistant district attorney Mark Tribble, who noted her questionable memory.

The prodding by prosecutors left Clark still talking as she left the witness stand, prompting a warning from the judge.

?I don?t intend to let you make a mockery of this court and you?re within an inch of being held in contempt,? Ross said, noting he believes Clark lied during her testimony. ?I don?t know what game you?re playing but you better save it for someone else.?

Ross said since the warrant was signed by the police officer, and not Clark, he couldn?t have her arrested for filing a false report. However, in binding the case to the grand jury, Ross pointed out she would have to tell the same story again, this time before a grand jury and perhaps a trial jury.

?They may get you for perjury yet,? said Ross, warning the couple to stay away from each other or face being arrested.