Why didn't she leave.
He threatened to assault her, I wouldn't be surprised if he already had! When a woman makes her get away in secret, in the dead of night, or starts recording conversations, it isn't because nothing has happened, op.
By the sheer fact that you were slapped once (and I am truly sorry that you had to deal with that) & you left, you will probably not know the finer "workings" of DV.
You may not know that many women leave when he is asleep, or at work, at the football, because it is, to an extent, safer to leave while he is not around.
You may not know how these men operate.
You might not be aware that it can take several instances of violence before the woman even realises that she needs to leave, and once they break away, they will do anything in order to avoid the wrath of their perpetrator again, including withdrawing complaints, changing statements, refusing to give evidence.
Thankfully those who work with DV victims DO know this, and will be work with the victim. To you, it looks like holes, to her & her DV support teams, it's protection.
Of course he only threatened to assault her ... you do know that that isn't right, don't you? Decent men don't control their wives through threats of violence.
Also, when asked by the judge why she didn't call the police sooner, her response was "I was afraid the police will let him go and he'll come after me". Although that is generally a reasonable reason but for someone who is educated in law to use that doesnt wash with me. You never lived under the threat of repeated violence, did you op? Her response to not reporting it sooner is valid. She was scared of repercussions.
The most dangerous time in a DV relationship is when the victim leaves. That is when most deaths occur.
Im saying a lawyer who has studied criminal and family law is not going to tolerate DV for 8 years without doing nothing Listen to yourself! Sorry op, but you have been hit once & you think you know everything there is to know about DV.
Women go 20 odd years suffering at the hands of abusers, 30,40,50yrs by the very fact that they are conditioned to think it is their fault. They know if they leave they are at greater risk. More risk piles on if they dare to try to prosecute their abuser.
You don't know this woman, but 8 weeks in to a relationship with someone you barely know you are dismissing her as a liar, accusing her of using a system she knows well in order to prevent custody!
Wake up, please!! He already has you sucked in, op. You are believing his every word. You are far to invested & you cannot see the woods for the trees, which is exactly what he is banking on!
First & foremost, I think you need to address why, as soon as he realised you were a victim of DV, he thought it was OK to share this with you. Incredibly crass, imo to share the details he has with someone who lived it, especially when he has known you such a shirt time. It sounds to me like he is already trying to precondition you. Groom you, if you like.
Sounds like its working too.
Also, educate yourself as to what victims of sustained DV go through. There is so much out there to read, start with my link.
Because I am sorry op, but you know very little about it.