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Ballroom Dancer Charged in Attempted Slay

Posted on: Wednesday, 7 September 2005, 21:00 CDT

MANCHESTER, Conn. - One of the nation's top ballroom dance teams has landed in court, with a dancer accusing her partner of trying to kill her.

Larinda McRaven says she was attacked after she came home from a motel where she had been spending the night because of problems with Stephen Hevenor.

Hevenor appeared in court Tuesday to face charges including criminal attempt to commit homicide, unlawful restraint and assault. He is being held on $150,000 bail.

Hevenor and McRaven are ranked one of the top 10 dance teams in the country, according to his lawyer. The pair are North American champions in ballroom dancing and four-time United States National Professional Open finalists, according to ballroom dance Web sites.

McRaven told police that Hevenor on Monday was drunk and accused her of cheating on him. She said he pulled her hair, choked her and tried to cover her face with a pillow. She was able to get away and call police.

Police said later told them he had started drinking vodka at around noon that day.

According to police, Hevenor acknowledged choking McRaven but said he did it because he was trying to keep her from kicking him in the groin.

Public Defender Alfonzo Sirica told the judge that the police report may not accurately portray all the facts.

Hevenor was in an alcohol education program at the time of his arrest, according to the bail commissioner.

Source: Associated Press/AP Online

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