Reuben Foster will return to the San Francisco 49ers squad. A court on Wednesday dropped two lawsuits for domestic violence against the linebacker of the Niners. Former friend Fosters had withdrawn the accusations six days earlier.
The California Superior Court judge Nona Klippen ruled that the indictment did not contain enough evidence against Foster to punish the 24-year-old. Foster’s ex-girlfriend, Elissa Ennis, appeared for a preliminary hearing on May 17.
Ennis testified that Foster had never hit her and that she made false accusations to collect money and ruin his career. She was angry about the breakup. She also stated that she had already gone to prison in 2011 because she had also falsely accused a former ex-partner of domestic violence.
“We have noted that the domestic violence suits against Reuben Foster have been dropped,” said 49ers General Manager John Lynch in a statement. “So tomorrow he will have the opportunity to return to the team. “Reuben has been made clear, however, that he must earn his place on this team.”
However, the indictment of domestic violence is currently not the only one that accompanies Foster. The linebacker was also charged with illicit possession of weapons. This charge was now classified by a judge as a minor offense instead of a criminal offense. In this case, Foster must answer in a preliminary hearing on June 6.
“We will continue to monitor developments in this case,” the NFL said in a statement.
Foster hasn’t been on the 49ers’ off-season program since the indictment in mid-April. He has been charged not only with illegal weapons possession but also with minor marijuana consumption.