Crime & Safety

Man Accused in Eyelid-Biting Assault Found Not Guilty

A Macomb County jury found Rahsaan Thedford not guilty after only 40 minutes of deliberation.

A Macomb County Circuit Court jury Friday found a 33-year-old Clinton Township man not guilty of assault with intent to maim his wife in a 2011 Mother's Day attack.

Rahsaan Thedford was accused of striking his her eyelid May 8 in an alleged assault in their St. Clair Shores home.

During two days of testimony, Thedford's attorney Robert Vandenbroucke argued that his client was acting in self-defense. He also argued that the case was overcharged.

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"The charge was really overkill," said Vandenbroucke, who added the victim's testimony helped his case. "On the stand, she recanted and admitted that she started the argument and physical altercation."

Thedford, a college student pursuing a computer degree, is now free to return home to his wife and their children, who have cerebral palsy.

Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoreswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Hopefully they will get some counseling and figure out there are better ways to resolve their differences," Vandenbroucke said.

The Macomb County Prosecutors Office did not respond to a request for a comment.

Jurors Hear Graphic Courtroom Testimony

Jurors in Macomb Circuit Court on Wednesday heard the chilling 911 call made by Thedford's wife, whose eyelid was allegedly bitten off during the argument with her husband.

"Can someone please come to my house," Thedford's wife was heard frantically telling the dispatcher. "He bit off my eye(lid) ... can you please come."

Thedford, who is free on bond and appeared in court in jeans, sat nearly emotionless as the call was replayed in the courtroom of Judge Diane Druzinski.

Prosecutors said Thedford went to his wife's home in St. Clair Shores in the predawn hours of Mother's Day, and then the couple got into an argument.

The trial before the five-woman and nine-man jury began Wednesday and wrapped up Friday afternoon. Thedford was charged with assault with intent to maim. If convicted, he could have spent up to 10 years in prison.


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