Husband Guilty Of Simple Assault As Wife's Back Was Broken: Jury

WEST CHESTER, PA — A jury found Brian Thuer, 41, of Kennett Square, guilty of simple assault connected to the physical assault of his 35-year-old wife in April 2020, the Chester County District Attorney's Office said on Wednesday.

Chester County District Attorney Deb Ryan said, "Domestic violence is often swept under the rug, away from the eyes of friends and family. This victim, however, had the strength to seek medical help and contact law enforcement. Thank you to the jury for seeing through the shameless blame-the-victim defense."

On April 24, 2020, Kennett Township Police responded to a domestic disturbance on Pierce Lane in Kennett Township, where the victim had been physically assaulted. The victim told investigators that her husband strangled her then pushed her to the ground during an argument. The victim suffered a broken back as a result of the attack.

Court records show Thuer had been charged also with two felonies; aggravated assault, attempting to cause serious bodily injury with extreme indifference, and with strangulation. He was found not guilty of these charges. The jury found him guilty of the misdemeanor charge of simple assault and a charge of harassment.

Presiding over the trial was Judge Ann Marie Wheatcraft. Kennett Township Police investigated, and Assistant District Attorneys Dan Hollander and Monica Szyszkiewicz handled the prosecution.

Thuer will be sentenced at a later date, the DA said.

If you need help with domestic violence, call the Domestic Violence Center of Chester County’s free 24-hour hotline: 888-711-6270 or 610-431-1430.

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