NFL star Rice avoids domestic violence trial

Domestic violence charges against Ray Rice were dismissed after the former National Football League running back completed a pretrial intervention programme, New Jersey prosecutors said.

Rice played with the Baltimore Ravens from 2008 until being suspended in 2014, had his $35 million contract terminated in September when a video surfaced of him knocking out his then-finance Janay Palmer in an elevator at a casino in February.

Rice, 28, applied for New Jersey’s pre-trial intervention programme at a court appearance last May, where he pleaded not guilty to assault charges. The Rice case triggered a wave of criticism against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for what was widely seen as light penalties he gave to players in domestic abuse cases.