Sister in law punched wife-options?

[josh7328]

My sister in law is mentally unstable, and has been in and out of institutions for a long time. Last night she decided to randomly PUNCH MY WIFE IN THE MOUTH in the middle of a restaraunt, in front of my daughter. She's 17 or 18 and her spineless parents said NOTHING at all to her. This is not the first time this has happened. I am in Afghanistan, so I am limited in what I can do. I want to file a restraining order on the bitch or something. I refuse to let my wife and daughter to be exposed to that garbage. I sure wish my wife had pressed charges on the spot, but she didn't. What options do I have?

[Wiggity]

I'd talk to your brother and tell him he needs to keep his wife under control because next time you are calling the police

[cstone]

What does your wife want to come from this? Does she want a continued relationship with your SIL?

[josh7328]

I'd talk to your brother and tell him he needs to keep his wife under control because next time you are calling the police

Brother? I don't have a brother. what?

[J]

Not much. Unfortunately unless your wife is rendered unable or unfit to file charges herself, she must file them, and there is nothing you can do besides try to convince your wife, and/or help her through it if she refuse.

[J]

Brother? I don't have a brother. what?

He assumed it was your brothers wife. Instead it is your wife's sister. Both are sister in laws, just in opposite sides.

[josh7328]

What does your wife want to come from this? Does she want a continued relationship with your SIL?

No. She already told me that she doesn't. And I sure as hell won't have some young punk running around laying hands on my family. I've never hit a woman, but I worry about what might happen if I see her hit my wife.

The thing is, that her parents will still bring her around, despite our wishes. I feel like the only way to prevent that is with legal action.

[josh7328]

He assumed it was your brothers wife. Instead it is your wife's sister. Both are sister in laws, just in opposite sides.

oh. gotcha

[bogie]

I feel for you man especially since you're so far away and can't deal with it. You can try to convince her to file charges but she might hate you for it in the long run. It's $hitty but sometimes the way it works (I'm assuming they are sisters?).

[sneakerd]

Easier said than done, but you probably need to totally disassociate your family from the sis-in-law. Call this last one a freebie, the only one, and never go out with her again. Obviously, ya'll need to be very conscious of the possibility, and stay out of range and/or on guard at all times if family business forces contact.