Just wondering what happened to the thread about Binesh Prasad attacking his wife. If the thread decended into topics worth deleting, it is a shame. News topics like these bring to light that no matter how well you think you know someone, he/she could abuse their spouses and/or children. Binesh needs serious help when he responds, "Everyone makes a mistake." From what Plaatjes said, the abuse has been going on for years.
Olympian charged in assault of wife
Prasad: Incident was 'misunderstanding ... out of control'
By Christine Reid, Camera Staff Writer
February 12, 2005
A local elite runner accused of assaulting his wife this week faces the possibility of 32 years in prison if convicted.
Binesh Prasad, a two-time Olympian for Fiji, was arrested after his wife, Nadia, told police he strangled her and broke her nose at their Niwot home Tuesday.
Prasad, 41, appeared for a hearing Friday at the Boulder County Jail and was formally charged with two counts of second-degree assault, menacing with a deadly weapon, third-degree assault and four counts of child abuse because the couple's children were home when the incident occurred.
He remains free from jail on a $10,000 bond, and is expected back in court March 3.
"It was just a misunderstanding between us that went out of control," an emotional Prasad said after Friday's hearing. "Everybody makes a mistake."
Nadia Prasad, also an Olympic marathoner and 1994 Bolder Boulder winner, called 911 for help, and later told police that her husband attacked her because his dinner was not ready by 7:30 p.m. After he called her "worthless and pathetic" in front of the couple's children, Nadia Prasad reported to officers, she told him not to treat her that way and a struggle ensued.
She said her husband punched her three times in the face, and strangled her for about 20 seconds as she lay on her back with him straddling her.
Binesh Prasad told officers he was defending himself because his wife "went crazy" and attacked him after he yelled at her. Officers reported that he had two scratches under his right eye. He told them he hid in an upstairs bedroom to get away from his wife because he thought she was coming after him, according to an arrest report.
Binesh Prasad has no criminal history in Colorado, according to police.
The couple — celebrated as one of Boulder's elite running couples in the December Parade of Lights — run with Lefthand Striders, a free training group for children and their parents to prepare for the Bolder Boulder.
Nadia Prasad told deputies from her hospital bed that her husband had hurt her in the past during their 15-year marriage, most recently two weeks ago, when she had not finished her chores and he punched her in the ribs. She never reported her husband to police previously because she thought things would improve, the arrest report said.
Mark and Shirley Plaatjes, friends of the Prasads who stayed with the children when Binesh was taken to jail and Nadia to the hospital, told authorities there had been abuse in the past. Two years ago, Binesh Prasad had "beaten up" his wife and Shirley Plaatjes had taken photographs of her injuries. However, Nadia Prasad did not want to report the incident to police, Shirley Plaatjes said.
Mark Plaatjes, co-owner of Boulder Running Co. and the 1993 World Championships marathon gold medalist, is Nadia's coach. Neither he nor his wife could be reached for comment Friday.
"It's very difficult for friends and family to know how to help," said Anne Tapp, executive director of Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence. "Oftentimes when family and friends are aware or even suspect (domestic violence), their first inclination is to be worried and oftentimes feel immobilized and powerless to change things."
Tapp said it becomes a more difficult dynamic when the victim is telling them not to contact police.
"Calling police into your relationship is a big deal," she said. "Most women do everything they can to change the situation, hoping that it will get better or shift in some way."
Tapp said a bystander confronting the abuser may be an option.
"When we're silently watching, the abuser gets the message that it's OK," she said.