Corbin couple arrested in domestic violence incident involving pruning shears

 A Corbin man and his girlfriend are both facing domestic violence and alcohol intoxication charges stemming from an incident Sunday night that reportedly involved a pair of garden pruning shears.

Laurel County Sheriff’s deputies and Kentucky State Police were called to a residence on Edge Water Road about 10:15 p.m. in response to a complaint of a domestic dispute involving 67-year-old Willie Cornett Jr. and 46-year-old Beverly Ellis.

According to Deputy Gilbert Acciardo, the department’s public affairs officer, deputies found both of them covered in blood. Ellis reportedly had a stab wound to the leg caused by the pruning shears, a fractured left arm and several lacerations to the face.

Acciardo stated that Ellis told deputies that Cornett had been drinking when he stabbed her with the pruning shears and beat on her with his fists before holding a knife to her throat and threatening to kill her.

Cornett told deputies that he had called 911 after Ellis assaulted him and he was forced to defend himself. Their respective injuries were the result of the struggle that ensued.

Cornett was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph – London Hospital. Ellis was taken by ambulance to Baptist Health Corbin. Upon their release from the hospital, Cornett and Ellis were taken into custody by deputies and lodged in the Laurel County Detention Center.

Cornett was charged with second-degree assault, first-degree wanton endangerment and alcohol intoxication.

Ellis was charged with fourth-degree assault and alcohol intoxication.