Whatever the actual circumstances were, to chalk it up as merely a mistake is disingenuous I think. It's not like "criminal mischief" of getting busted for smoking dope in the parking lot, or trying to pass a fake ID at the bar. Other mistakes include backing into a concrete bollard, or offering the wrong opinion on your girlfriend/wife's clothing.

So, exactly how violent he was with her, I don't know, maybe it's not enough to destroy his life, but it was probably more than "not at all" which is enough that VT doesn't need the PR millstone.