Damphousse's estranged wife charged with assaulting him
MONTREAL - The estranged wife of former Canadiens captain Vincent Damphousse found herself before a judge Wednesday as she was formally charged with assaulting the retired hockey player.
An indictment alleging Allana Henderson, 40, of Baie d'Urfé, assaulted Damphousse last month emerged from the Montreal courthouse only days after he also was accused of conjugal violence. Damphousse, who played for the Canadiens from 1992 to 1999 during an 18-year National Hockey League career, faces six charges alleging he assaulted Henderson on different occasions between Jan. 1, 2008 and March 29, 2011.
Through a lawyer, Damphousse pleaded not guilty to all of the charges last week.
Henderson appeared in person before Quebec Court Judge Raymonde Verreault Wednesday afternoon while her lawyer, Mathieu Corbo, also entered a not-guilty plea. Both cases are scheduled to return to court July 12.
After the brief hearing, Henderson and her lawyer walked past reporters while Corbo repeated "no comment" a few times.
Prosecutor Caroline Paquin said Henderson was not required to be present for her first court date but wanted to be there to have a condition attached to the case modified. The condition is part of divorce proceedings Henderson filed recently.
Last week, Damphousse's lawyer, Michel Dorval, issued a statement saying the charges brought against his client were "instigated in the context of a divorce proceeding." Dorval also wrote that Damphousse will not comment on the charges.
Paquin said it is not unusual to see counter allegations made in cases involving conjugal violence.
"Each is the accused and the victim in the present case. Certain events overlap but some date back to 2008 in the case of Mr. Damphousse," Paquin said.
The case against Henderson involves events that allegedly took place on March 29 in Montreal. She is charged with stealing a briefcase from Damphousse and with assaulting him while threatening to use a weapon. Paquin would not say what type of weapon was referred to in the alleged threat.
Damphousse is also charged with assaulting Henderson on March 29. According to court records, the couple's first hearing in their divorce was held at the Montreal courthouse two days later. Five other charges allege Damphousse assaulted Henderson between Jan. 1, 2008 and March 25, 2011.
Damphousse began his National Hockey League career in 1986 with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He began playing for the Canadiens in 1992 and was traded to the San Jose Sharks during the 1998-99 season. He was the team's captain from 1996 until the time of the trade.
