Former Celtics player admits he beat and choked his girlfriend for hours, but if he can stay out of trouble for two years, he won't have a conviction on his record

Jabari Bird today admitted he repeatedly attacked his girlfriend in his Brighton apartment over a four-hour period one night in 2018, after which a judge continued his case without a finding for two years, which means the criminal charges will be dismissed if he stays out of trouble during that period.

In a hearing at Brighton District Court, in which he broke down in tears, Bird acknowledged "he assaulted and repeatedly choked his then-girlfriend, prevented her from leaving his apartment, and later threatened her in an attempt to deter her from testifying," the Suffolk County District Attorney's office reports.

Judge David Donnelly did order home arrest for 60 days for Bird as part of a two-year period of probation, and ordered him to enter an abuse intervention program - and to have no contact with his victim.

Assistant District Attorney Khyati Short had urged a guilty plea and a sentence of 60 days in jail for Bird.

This request was backed by the victim, who appeared via Zoom and told the judge that "time supposedly heals all wounds" but the trauma of the attack remains fresh and has shattered her trust in men. "I miss the woman I was before I met Jabari," she said.

Donnelly said he acknowledged the pain, but added that Bird had stayed out of trouble in the three years since his arrest.