CHICAGO -- A man who was reportedly interrupted by a Chicago musician while brutally beating his wife was found not guilty last week in the attack that followed.
On June 29, 2010, Justin Pivec was reportedly beating and choking his wife in the 1300 block of West Ohio Street when she spotted Madina Lake bassist Matthew Leone and yelled for him to call police, the Chicago Tribune reports.
When Leone attempted to intervene, Pivec allegedly attacked the 35-year-old musician.
"He's a Good Samaritan who got the worst end of it," a police source told the Tribune at the time. "This is a guy who if he had not gotten immediate treatment could have taken a bad, bad turn."
Leone was reportedly kicked in the head more than 10 times and left unconcious in the street following the attack. Doctors had to remove a part of his skull due to massive head injuries.
Still, Cook County Judge Vincent Gaughan found Pivec not guilty of attempted murder in the incident.
Madina Lake responded to the verdict in a statement on the band's Facebook page:
“We’re utterly baffled and shocked to get a Not-Guilty verdict in the Justin Pivec attempted murder case. Admittedly we’re not well versed in the justice system but today a vicious coward was given a free pass for beating his wife and almost killing my brother. This has taken a tremendous toll on all of us for 2 years and though we’re devastated .. we will continue to focus on the positive, which is that Matthew is still with us and hopefully this has spread awareness for victims of domestic violence. More later as we attempt to comprehend this.”
Domestic violence charges against Pivec are still pending.
After the attack, the Smashing Pumpkins held a benefit concert to help Leone pay his medical bills. Gov. Pat Quinn called Leone “a true American hero” at the event.
Leone grew up in northwest suburban Palatine and started popular local band The Blank Theory in 1998 with his brother, according to his Facebook profile. Madina Lake was formed in Chicago in 2005.