By Michael Copley
Staff Writer

A rape case that was certified to a grand jury in February is streaked with conflicting testimony and graphic details. A woman has accused John B. Royal III of raping her Jan. 2 inside his home in Powhatan.

According to testimony at a preliminary hearing, the victim had been in a relationship with Royal, 40, for about a month before the alleged rape.

A witness for the defense, who claims to have participated in what transpired Jan. 2, said sexual intercourse was consensual.

Despite discrepancies between the testimonies of the victim and defense witness, Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Richard Cox insisted the Commonwealth had met its burden of probable cause for a preliminary hearing.

Defense attorney Rodney L. Jefferson pointed to a lack of physical evidence or evidence of a struggle, and said the “missing pieces of the Commonwealth’s case are filled in by a credible witness.”
District Court Judge Paul Cella ultimately sided with the Commonwealth- based, he said, on the victim’s testimony- and certified the case to a grand jury.

Royal faces six other charges that will be taken up in district court March 19.