Chapter 10 - Dustin Tried to Make Me the Story
Once the video of him punching me became part of the case, Dustin changed tactics.
His attorney argued I had intentionally provoked him.
That was partly true in one narrow sense.
I confronted him because I wanted him to expose himself.
But confrontation is not consent to assault.
I did not threaten him.
Did not strike him.
Did not block him from leaving.
The gym footage showed it clearly.
So Dustin moved to another argument.
I was a trained combat instructor.
Therefore he supposedly had reason to fear me.
That almost worked emotionally until investigators reviewed the complete footage.
I stood still.
Dustin approached.
Dustin punched.
I never retaliated.
My training did not make his attack more justified.
If anything, what I did with that training mattered more.
Nothing.
I knew exactly what I could have done.
And chose not to.
May you like
That decision became stronger evidence than any fight would have been.
---
