Trigger Warning: Domestic Violence

Judge Convicts Man Following Bench Trial of Assaulting, Strangling Wife

NORFOLK, Va. — Rayvon Kersey, 56, was found guilty following a bench trial on Thursday of strangulation, abduction, and domestic assault and battery after he strangled his wife to the point that she lost consciousness and continued assaulting her after he prevented her from leaving their bedroom earlier this year.

On the night of April 2 into the early morning of April 3, Mr. Kersey argued with and assaulted his wife in their bedroom. Mr. Kersey elevated the verbal argument to a physical altercation by holding his wife down on their bed, putting his hands around her neck, and strangling her while digging into her skin with his nails. When Mr. Kersey finally let go after a couple of minutes, the victim tried to get up to leave but fell down to the floor and blacked out. When she came to, she attempted to leave again, but Mr. Kersey punched her in her jaw and continued to assault her, including biting one of her fingers until it bled. Mr. Kersey threatened to kill her if she left, and so she complied.

After about a week, the victim decided to leave Mr. Kersey, seek medical treatment at a local urgent care facility, and seek further assistance at a local domestic violence shelter. After consulting with personnel at the shelter, the victim went to the Norfolk Police Operations Center and spoke with a detective about the events of April 2 and 3. The detective put the victim before a Norfolk magistrate and secured charges against Mr. Kersey for felony strangulation, felony abduction, and misdemeanor assault and battery of a family member.

On Thursday, Mr. Kersey pleaded not guilty to his charges and requested to be tried by a judge. The victim testified to her experience, and Mr. Kersey testified to restraining her by her shoulders on the bed but minimized the remainder of the assault. After hearing the evidence, Judge Robert J. Humphreys found Mr. Kersey guilty of all charges and set his sentencing date on Jan. 15.

“Intimate-partner violence is the most common and most underreported violent crime on Earth,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “I am thankful to the survivor here for coming forward and helping hold Mr. Kersey accountable for his actions. People who strangle their victims are several times more likely to kill than those who do not, and we treat these cases seriously.”

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Victoria V. Kapper is prosecuting Mr. Kersey’s case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective LaRue D. Wilkins led the investigation.

If you have or someone you love has fallen victim to crime, including but not limited to domestic violence, resources are available at the Norfolk Family Justice Center. For more information, please visit norfolkfjc.org, call 757-330-0376 or stop by the NFJC inside the Park Place Multi-Services Center at 606 W. 29th St., between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. If you are in crisis, call the 24/7 hotline by dialing 757-251-0144. In an emergency, please call 911.

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