Man Allegedly Strangled and Assaulted His Wife and Mother in Law

At around 4:15 in the morning on Sunday, Missoula Police officers were dispatched to a report of a disturbance in the 1700 block of Cooper Street. An officer arrived and made contact with the victim. The officer noticed that the victim had multiple injuries on her face, neck, head, and hands that were bleeding. She stated she was strangled by her common-law husband, 26-year-old Leo Green.

The officer then spoke to the victim’s mother. She said an argument started between her daughter and Mr. Green’s sister because her daughter asked them to quiet down as she and her child were trying to sleep.

“Ms. Green took exception to that and began arguing with the complainant,” Welsh said. “The argument eventually escalated to pushing and shoving. The disturbance spread when Mr. Green’s mother in law attempted to stop the other two women from fighting. At that point, Mr. Green became involved. It is reported that he, at one point, restricted the breathing of his wife and his mother in law.”

Court documents indicate the victim’s mother stepped in to break up the fight, but Mr. Green grabbed her by the neck and slammed her into the wall. Ms. Green began to punch the victim and the victim’s mother again tried to intervene. Mr. Green knocked the victim’s mother to the ground, held her by the neck, and began to bang her head into the floor.

The victim’s mother said Mr. Green then turned his attention to her daughter and his sister. She said Mr. Green pinned her daughter down allowing Ms. Green to get on top of her and continue to strike her.

The officer then went to St. Patrick’s Hospital to interview the victim. The victim said Mr. Green held her down on the ground by the neck and applied pressure with his foot. She thinks this went on for about 30 seconds and she said she believes she lost consciousness. She also says Mr. Green punched her in the head. The officer observed an open abrasion and large knot on the right side of her head and redness around her neck.

Mr. Green appeared in Missoula Justice Court on Monday afternoon and Deputy County Attorney Carrie Garber provided the following statement.

“The court is aware that there is a very thin line between strangulation and death of just moments and this defendant pushed that line way too far,” Garber said. “We believe that he is a danger to these folks and to the general community based upon his history. We are asking that he have no contact with the alleged victim’s in this case or his sister who is a co-defendant. We are asking, based upon his consumption of alcohol, that he be required to test for it and that he obey all conditions of probation.”

Judge Alex Beal set bond in the amount of $75,000. Mr. Green was charged with strangulation, partner or family member assault, and assault.