Arnold Berdon reportedly can be heard telling Rachael Ostovich ‘I’m going to murder you’ in recording

MMAfighting.com

A Hawaii television channel has obtained what is apparently a graphic video from the night in which Rachael Ostovich’s husband Arnold Berdon allegedly attacked her.

Hawaii News Now published a piece Friday that included clips from what the station said is a 10-minute video captured by a witness on a cell phone, who started recording in the dark. In the video, Berdon allegedly can be heard threatening to kill Ostovich and, later, a nude Ostovich can be seen escaping their home down a veranda.

“I’m going to murder you,” Berdon allegedly could be heard saying. “I’m going to f*cking murder you.”

Berdon, 27, is facing a second-degree assault charge, a felony, in Honolulu Circuit Court stemming from the alleged attack in the early morning hours of Nov. 18. He pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Thursday and is out on a $75,000 bond. Berdon, also an MMA fighter, is due back in court for trial Feb. 18, per online records. Ostovich was granted a temporary restraining order against Berdon and has filed for divorce. Last week, Berdon was indicted by a grand jury.

Initially, Berdon was arrested last month on a charge of attempted murder, which was then reduced. Hawaii News Now reported that attempted murder recommendation made by Honolulu police was based on information from the video.

Ostovich wrote in her petition for the restraining order that Berdon punched her “repeatedly on the head, face, ribs,” adding that she coughed up blood and threw up several times. Ostovich was taken to the hospital and treated for a broken orbital bone, per police. She also wrote this was not the first incident of domestic abuse.

Berdon’s attorney Myles Breiner told Hawaii News Now that Berdon is going through a domestic violence course and the couple is focusing on their daughter, who visits with Berdon twice a week with supervision. He would not comment on the video that has surfaced, though it was reported he did receive it in discovery. Breiner maintained that an attempted murder charge would have been too much.

“There are times when they over reach and this is one of those,” he said. “Arnold Berdon and his wife had a relationship. It was acrimonious, there’s no question about that. The face that DV officials or advocates want something is neither here nor there. They’re not the attorneys that have to try the case.”

Ostovich, 27, has been cleared after a follow up with doctors to fight Paige VanZant on the first UFC on ESPN+ card Jan. 19 in Brooklyn. Ostovich told KHON that she wanted to remain in the fight to “take a stand.”

“Although this is a very difficult time for me and my family, I felt that this fight in January was important,” Ostovich said. “I felt that it was extremely important to me to follow through with it — not only for me, but first for my daughter and other people that might be going through similar situations. I want to take a stand against domestic violence and show others that it’s OK to come out and speak about it and not be quieted.

“I feel like I have to do this. This is something that can’t be taken away from me. I want to use this big, worldwide UFC platform to show people that, don’t let anyone or anything come between you and your dreams and your career.”