Lee Bettis domestic violence charge dismissed in Craven County Court
A domestic violence charge against the former New Bern mayor was dismissed this week after his wife, the victim in the case, signed an affidavit invoking marital privilege and declining to testify, according to Craven County court records.
Defense attorney Lee Bettis Jr., 57, was arrested Oct. 9 on a charge of assault on a female. His wife, Kelly Marie McNeil, is listed in court records as the victim.
In November, McNeil signed an affidavit stating she and Bettis were married in 2020, that they were still married and she asserted her marital privilege, meaning in certain circumstances the state cannot compel one spouse to testify against another.
As a result, special prosecutor Veronica Van Tol filed a notice of dismissal Wednesday, noting McNeil's affidavit, and stating that without independent witnesses to the assault, no allegation of assault in the 911 call, no signs of an assault in the video evidence and no "excited utterances," she was unable to proceed.
When reached for comment Friday, Bettis read a statement he'd posted to his Facebook page Wednesday where he expressed dismay that no reporters attended the court hearing during which the charge was dismissed.
"I love my wife. She loves me. We are stronger in our love of God now than ever before," Bettis said. "I’m disgusted by the sensationalism and prejudgment of Kelly and I in this instance, and we wish to be left alone to continue growing in our marriage, raising our child, and working to please God."
An attempt to contact McNeil was unsuccessful.
"Kelly wants to be left alone," Bettis said. "We have no faith in the open air sewer that is the media."
Reporter Symone Graham can be reached by email at sgraham@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: Lee Bettis domestic violence charge dismissed in Craven County court
