The jury trial for Hardy, 26, had been set to begin in Charlotte,
North Carolina, on Monday. He was accused of assaulting his former
girlfriend, Nicole Holder, and threatening to kill her.
"The victim appears to have intentionally made herself unavailable
to the state," the District Attorney's Office said in a statement.
"Without her testimony in this particular instance, the state could
not proceed."
Hardy, a five-year NFL veteran, was found guilty by a district court
judge in July but, under North Carolina law, appealed the verdict
and was then allowed to have a jury trial.
The National Football League placed Hardy on the commissioner's
exempt list in September, meaning he was taken off the field but
continued to receive his $13.1 million salary.
Hardy’s suspension will remain in effect until the matter is
reviewed, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said after the case was
dismissed.
Several of the NFL's top players, including Adrian Peterson and Ray
Rice, were charged with domestic violence in 2014, prompting the
league to overhaul its personal conduct policy.
Sharply criticized for being too lenient on domestic violence and
sexual assault, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell made the penalties
for such crimes much harsher than in the past.
Hardy, a 2013 Pro Bowler who played only one game for the Panthers
before being suspended last season, will become a free agent next
month and it was uncertain if Carolina would re-sign the former
sixth-round draft choice out of Mississippi.
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"Greg remains on the commissioner’s exempt list and the NFL has
advised us to allow it to complete its review under the Personal
Conduct Policy," the Panthers said in a statement. "There is no
change in his status at this time."
He was accused of assaulting Holder at his Charlotte condominium in
May, sending her to the hospital emergency room.
Prosecutors said when she last spoke with them in November, Holder
told them that she "did not want to participate in another trial."
Holder has already reached a civil settlement with Hardy,
prosecutors said.
Hardy, wearing a dark suit and white tennis shoes, left the
Mecklenburg County Courthouse without speaking to reporters.
(Reporting by Steve Ginsburg in Washington; Editing by Mohammad
Zargham, Eric Beech and Eric Walsh)
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