Bergen County Waitress Tries “Relentless Flirting Defense” After Knife Assault

When facing charges for violent crimes in Bergen County, defendants may need to get creative with their defense strategies. An effective criminal defense attorney may be able to explore innovative opportunities depending on the unique circumstances of each case. One defendant in Bergen County seems to be taking a particularly creative approach, claiming that she stabbed a man at work due to the pressures of “relentless flirting.” Is this a viable defense to assault in New Jersey?

Waitress Faces Numerous Charges After Stabbing Coworker in Chest 

In August of 2024, numerous sources reported that a waitress in Bergen County had been arrested after stabbing a coworker in the chest. At first, reports only mentioned an “argument” between the coworkers – neglecting to go into further detail. The defendant was taken into custody on charges of second-degree assault and various weapons offenses. The victim was hospitalized but suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Later, further details began to emerge. After a meeting with her attorney, the defendant stated that her decision to stab the victim was prompted by “relentless flirting.” She also claimed that before the stabbing attack, the victim was making a “grinding motion” behind her. She argues that she grabbed the knife in a moment of rage – and only after the victim had spent weeks making unsolicited “advances” toward her.

The judge seems to be somewhat sympathetic to this argument, stating that although the defendant’s charges are “very serious,” they were nonetheless “somewhat provoked by the victim.” The defendant was released on a “PML 3” and cannot have any contact with the victim. She was also fired from her waitressing job.

Is Sexual Harassment a Legitimate Defense to Assault? 

This raises an important question: Can you legally use force to defend yourself against sexual harassment? The simple answer is that it depends. The term “sexual harassment” is somewhat vague, and it may involve a range of both physical and psychological abuses. Generally speaking, you have the right to use force to defend yourself against rape. You might even be justified in using a knife to defend yourself against a potential rapist – especially if you did so “in the heat of the moment.”

Things may be slightly more questionable if you were dealing with psychological forms of sexual harassment. A key thing to remember about self-defense is that it must be “proportional.” In other words, you might struggle to raise this defense if you use a knife against an unarmed attacker. This defense becomes even more challenging if the abuser did not physically touch you and simply made a grinding motion behind your back.

Can a Bergen County Defense Lawyer Help with Assault Charges? 

If you face assault charges in Bergen County, you might want to get in touch with an experienced New City criminal defense lawyer at your earliest convenience. These legal professionals can offer meaningful assistance, and they may be able to help you choose creative defense strategies. Contrary to popular opinion, there are many legally justifiable reasons to use force against someone in New Jersey. Reach out to Phillip J. Murphy, Attorney at Law for more information.

Sources:

msn.com/en-us/news/crime/relentless-flirting-prompted-mom-to-stab-co-worker-at-bergen-county-restaurant-attorney/ar-AA1pbTnG

nj.com/bergen/2024/08/nj-woman-charged-with-stabbing-co-worker-in-the-chest.html