Domestic violence

Legal defence in domestic violence cases

Domestic violence (Article 199 of the Criminal Code) is a special regime applying to acts under Articles 188, 189 and 193–195¹ committed against a family member. Only the statutory maximum penalty increases by one quarter, not both limits by one third. For assault under Article 193 against a family member or under the conditions of Article 195¹, criminal proceedings are initiated ex officio; for Article 196 against a family member, they may also begin ex officio. Withdrawal of a complaint under Articles 193/196 concerning a family member does not have the effect of removing liability under Article 158(1). A lawyer can examine both the allegation and urgent protective measures.

Urgent preventive measures and defence strategies

Alongside the strictly criminal component, these cases are characterised by the rapid issue of a provisional protection order by the police, subject to the prosecutor’s confirmation and separate from the procedure in which the court determines the protection-order application, through which the aggressor may be immediately evicted from the home and prohibited from any contact with the victim. The defence strategy must be highly dynamic: it addresses both challenging the protection order within the statutory period and managing evidence in the criminal case. Witness statements (often from relatives or neighbours), psychological assessment reports and messages between the parties are analysed in detail, seeking either examination of self-defence or, separately, provocation as a mitigating circumstance, or a sentencing outcome avoiding actual imprisonment (suspension under supervision).

Urgent legal assistance in Focșani and Vrancea county

Domestic violence cases are handled with the utmost speed and severity by judicial authorities, with a high risk of preventive measures such as judicial supervision or house arrest. The office of Lawyer Basuc Cosmin in Focșani offers firm and discreet legal representation before investigation authorities and courts. We assist during interviews, defend your interests in urgent protection-order proceedings at Focșani District Court and formulate strong defence strategies to ensure respect for all your procedural rights in Vrancea county.