Courtney Clenney, a model for the sexual website OnlyFans, is accused of killing her Nigerian lover after a dispute in their opulent Miami condo. Her attorneys have asserted that new evidence supports their client's claim that she acted in self-defense.
Clenny, 26, is accused of second-degree murder in the death of her partner Christian Obumseli, 28, on April 3, 2022. She has alleged that she was being attacked before she stabbed him in the chest.
The social media star's attorneys, Sabrina Puglisi and Frank Prieto, now assert that they will present new evidence at trial as proof that she was an abuse victim and acted in self-defense.
Puglisi, speaking to Law and Crime, mentioned two incidents involving Clenney. The first incident occurred in Las Vegas in 2021, where Clenney called security and was heard saying, “Get your hands off me.” Later, clumps of her hair were found on the ground in the room. Prieto, another attorney, highlighted the delayed arrest of his client by the detective, which lasted four months during the investigation of her lover's death.
There is footage from the couple's elevator showing previous domestic disputes, with Clenney appearing as the aggressor and striking him. Puglisi clarified that the media's portrayal of the events was a limited perspective and that in the full video, it can be seen that Clenney did not want him to enter the elevator and go upstairs due to the need for a key fob.
Since 2020, Clenney has earned over $3 million from OnlyFans and has a significant following on Instagram. A month before the stabbing, she was recorded threatening Obumseli's life. In December, Clenney broke down in tears when detectives informed her of Obumseli's death. Her lawyers mentioned that she had requested a restraining order against Obumseli shortly before the fatal fight, and a security guard in their building claimed to have witnessed him rushing at her.
Obumseli's cousin and legal team revealed that there were six calls related to disturbances involving the couple between January and March 2022, with reports of violence and threats. They argued that Clenney was at fault and presented forensic evidence suggesting that Obumseli was not the aggressor.
Karen Egbuna, Obumseli's cousin, expressed the profound impact of his death on their family, stating that they have experienced immeasurable loss and his mother has been deeply affected by grief and anger.
Last month, Obumseli's family filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against Clenney to cover funeral expenses and other costs resulting from his death. Clenney, who has pleaded not guilty, is currently in jail without bail awaiting trial. A status conference is scheduled for July.
