VIRGINIA BEACH — Larry Dornell Palmer repeatedly stabbed his wife last year in the home they shared here.
On Wednesday, the 47-year-old man learned his fate – he was sentenced to 40 years in prison for aggravated malicious wounding. He’ll serve 24 years and one month of that, the rest was suspended by Circuit Court Judge Glenn R. Croshaw.
Palmer was found guilty by Croshaw following a trial on May 1.
Palmer has prior drug, weapon and alcohol convictions. He also has convictions for eluding police, parole violation, probation violation, and several traffic infractions.
Palmer was drinking the night of March 7, 2017, when police were called to his Virginia Beach home. He was told to leave.
Some two hours later, Palmer kicked the door in. His wife noticed that he was armed with two knives.
It was then that he stabbed his wife repeatedly “all over her body,” according to the Virginia Beach Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office.
When a child in the home tried to leave to get help from a neighbor, Palmer put a knife to his wife’s throat and threatened to kill her if the child left the home. After about 20 minutes, the wife was able to free herself and run to a neighbor for help.
Police responded to the scene and found Palmer in a tree a short distance away. They found two knives they believed to have been used in the attack near Palmer.
Palmer’s wife suffered serious injuries but survived the attack.
