MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) – A national champion ballroom dancer says her partner was in “an intoxicated rage” and tried to kill her during a fight at their home.

Stephen Hevenor and Larinda McRaven have won more than 100 competitive dance titles together.

But on Tuesday, Hevenor was in Manchester Superior Court to face an attempted murder charge after police said he tried to kill McRaven by choking her.

“I feel that Stephen would have killed me if I had not called the police,” McRaven told officers, according to a police report. “I feel he was in an intoxicated rage and I feared for my life. I just kept thinking – if this was it, who was going to find me?”

McRaven, who had a cut next to her left eye, attended Hevenor’s court appearance with his mother.

Hevenor, 36, was charged with criminal attempt to commit homicide, first-degree unlawful restraint, third-degree assault, breach of peace and interference with an emergency call.

Judge Raymond Norko set bail at $150,000.

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

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

“It appears, although the allegations are serious, that the police report is not accurate,” he said.

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

Police Lt. Joseph Morrissey said a recording of McRaven’s call to police corroborated the police report.

She said she came home about 3:30 p.m. from a motel where she’d been spending the night because she was having relationship problems with Hevenor.

McRaven told police that Hevenor was drunk and accused her of cheating on him. He pulled her hair, choked her and poked her repeatedly, she said. He covered the left side of her face with a pillow, making it difficult for her to breathe.

She was able to get away and call police.

Police said Hevenor was swaying and smelled of alcohol when they arrived. He later told officers he had started drinking vodka at around noon Monday.

He told them he flew into a rage because of the alcohol and an earlier argument in which McRaven accused him of cheating. According to the police report, he acknowledged choking McRaven but said he did it because she was being aggressive and he was trying to keep her from kicking him in the groin.

Hevenor is due back in court Oct. 6.