Man accused of slicing Fort Lauderdale girlfriend's nose

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The 48-year-old truck driver's girlfriend rejected his advances, so he lashed out in a violent, face-disfiguring act and nearly sliced off her nose, authorities said.

On Wednesday, Ricardo Salamanca, of Plantation, appeared before Broward County Judge John "Jay" Hurley in first appearance court. He was charged with aggravated battery causing bodily harm and was ordered held on $75,000 bail.

Hurley said the Rosita Rosario's "nose was severed down to the sinus cavity where her nose was only attached by a thread."

"She was trauma alerted to North Broward Hospital for surgery to reattach her nose," he said.

The prosecutor said Rosario is in fear of Salamanca. Court records show that she filed a temporary injunction against him on Oct. 31, three days after the alleged attack.

According to a Fort Lauderdale police report, Salamanca told the victim: "That's what you deserve, bi***."

The nose-slashing occurred after Rosario and Salamanca spotted each other at a nightclub in Plantation on Oct. 28, the report said.

Police said Rosario went home alone from the club and then Salamanca stopped by shortly after. She let him inside and, at some point, Salamanca became enraged when Rosario turned his advances away.

He then allegedly threw her down and tried to place her in a chokehold, but she fought him off, police said.

"All she can remember is she ran from you. You picked her up and threw her across the room. Then she realized her face was bleeding profusely after that," Hurley told Salamanca.

Rosario drove herself to the hospital and was taken into surgery. According to the report, she may need further surgeries for her nose.

She gave police her sworn statement on Nov. 8 after having surgery to reattach her nose.

Salamanca was convicted of battery in Lake Mary in 1989, Assistant State Attorney Eric Linder said.