Read the article. The judge "said he accepted the women may have felt they were the victims of unreasonable force from Rhea's partner Lewis Moore, 23, who tried to defend her from the attack." Apparently defending your girlfriend from an attack becomes justification for the attack.
Holy smokes! I did read the article and missed that. I must be more distracted than I thought.
I only remember the defense of the muzzie swine not being used to alcohol.