|
Listen to this article here
|
Instagram model Courtney Clenney has been arrested in Hawaii and charged with the murder of her Black boyfriend, four months after his death.
Clenny has been in Hawaii while in rehab for substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder her lawyer, Frank Prieto, said.
She is expected to be charged with second-degree murder with a deadly weapon for the April 3 stabbing of her boyfriend, Christian “Toby” Obumseli, in Miami.
On April 3, Obumseli was stabbed to death by Instagram model Clenney, who claimed self-defense after the couple had a domestic dispute.
Clenney’s lawyer, Prieto, claimed that there was “clear evidence of self-defense in this matter.”
“Obumseli attacked her and choked her that evening,” Prieto said. “Courtney had no choice but to meet force with force.”
The family of Obumseli, however, did not believe that this was a case of self-defense.
During a press conference five days after Obumseli’s death, his cousin, Karen Egbuna, said the family had “no cause to believe that this was a case of self-defense. Toby was raised by a very strong family, with strong morals, strong values. He does not come from that.”
Instagram Model to face justice four months after stabbing
On Wednesday, Prieto told the Miami Herald that he was shocked to hear of Clenney’s arrest.
“I’m completely shocked, especially since we were cooperating with the investigation and offered to voluntarily surrender her if she were charged. We look forward to clearing her name in court.”
Hawaii law enforcement said in a statement that they assisted the U.S. Marshals Service as they arrested the 26-year-old.
The instagram model is being held at the East Hawaii Detention Center as she waits for extradition to Miami.
The family attorney for Obumseli, Larry Hanfield, said the family was not notified about Obumsel’s death by Miami police. Instead, it was the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine who called them two days later asking if they would like to donate Obumseli’s organs.
Hanfield said the family felt dismissed and disrespected by Miami police the following day when they met with detectives.
“They were told that Courtney claimed self-defense and they believed her and there was no need for an investigation,” he said. “The detective reached his conclusion in less than 24 hours from reporting to the scene. That is totally inappropriate and something that should never happen.”
“I believe that if she was Black, she would have been arrested [right away] and [police would have] let the process play itself out,” Hansfield said.
The arrest warrant for Clenney is currently sealed, but is expected to be made public ahead of a press conference Thursday afternoon held by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
Why do they have to put her “black” boyfriend!?! Why not just say her boyfriend and his name doesn’t matter what color geez sounds so stupid how news always has to say “black” but u hardly ever hear them say “white” man or woman.