This type of thing has become common here in NC in the last few years. I can only hope the court system will start actually executing these animals to send a message that they won't get away with this.
Domestic abuse is not treated as seriously as it should be. I have a now ex-friend whose husband was abusing her. She actually called me in the middle of the night to tell me he had thrown her on the floor and tried to strangle her. I told her to call the police. They came..saw...went. Said they couldn't do anything, not even remove him from the house as it was his residence and he denied the allegations...wth?