Kenneth Sailley
LAKE HAVASU CITY – A Lake Havasu City woman provided dramatic testimony about allegedly being strangled by her former partner during a quarrel over their young daughter. The 30-year-old woman told the Court that she twice nearly lost consciousness while being choked out by 29-year-old Kenneth Sailley at his duplex on Winterhaven Dr. on Feb. 9, 2023.
The testimony from victim S.R. came July 8, in what was expected to be a two-day bench trial before Judge Doug Camacho.
S.R. testified that she and the defendant were in an “on again-off-again” romance for about nine years, a relationship resulting in the birth of a daughter she said was four years old at the time of the incident. She explained that they had an informal child sharing agreement, but that Sailley exhibited anger during a series of April 7 communications that led to violence.
“He used extremely vulgar language,” and called her names, S.R. testified. She told the Court that Sailley indicated over the phone that he would take their daughter, make S.R.’s life hell and possibly harm himself if she did not bring their daughter to him.
She said she drove to the duplex unit they once shared and had the daughter on her hip at about 3 p.m. when Sailley opened the door.
“The look on his face was a look I’ve never seen before,” S.R. said. She told the Judge that she is a little more than 5′ tall while the 6’11” defendant ripped the girl away from her screaming “You’re not going anywhere. You’re not taking my daughter.”
During much of her testimony, the defendant turned slightly in his chair and peered at the wall, choosing not to look at S.R.
S.R. testified that Sailley “snapped” when the girl told her father she did not want to stay with him and wanted to go home with “Mommy.” She told Judge Camacho the defendant forced them into the home and that she and her daughter tumbled over a couch during a struggle when she was being strangled by one or both of the defendant’s hands.
“He just kept repeating ‘this is it you’re done. This is it you’re done,'” she said. “During the time of being strangled everything was getting fuzzy.”
S.R. testified that she was able to get six or seven kicks on the defendant who regained control and imposed another chokehold, making her fuzzy again. She told the Court that she was five months pregnant at the time and begged Sailley to calm down and let them leave.
S.R. said Sailley repeatedly blocked her attempts to exit the residence and that Sailley threatened her at knifepoint during the ordeal. She said she was finally able to escape and carried her daughter as she ran to her neighbors for help.
The roommate neighbors, Keith Little and Dale Lamond, testified that S.R. was frantic and bleeding from her nose and lip when she sought their aid. They said they saw Sailley pursuing her before he veered away, allowing them to get the woman and child safely inside, and call police.
Sailley faces two aggravated assault charges and three kidnap-related counts.
The state rested its case on July 8, but the trial will be in recess for about six weeks. The defense needs time to properly serve a Havasu Regional Medical Center doctor a subpoena requiring his testimony regarding the victim’s injuries.
The trial is expected to resume, and likely conclude on Aug. 23.
Dave Hawkins
