Friday 12 August 2022 05:55 AM 'He was the abuser': Courtney Clenney's lawyer insists she was the victim of ... trends now

Friday 12 August 2022 05:55 AM 'He was the abuser': Courtney Clenney's lawyer insists she was the victim of ... trends now
Friday 12 August 2022 05:55 AM 'He was the abuser': Courtney Clenney's lawyer insists she was the victim of ... trends now

Friday 12 August 2022 05:55 AM 'He was the abuser': Courtney Clenney's lawyer insists she was the victim of ... trends now

The lawyer for an OnlyFans model charged with murdering her boyfriend has condemned prosecutors for releasing footage of her attacking him - and insisted that he was 'the abuser'.

Courtney Clenney, 26, was detained on Wednesday at a rehab center in Laupahoehoe, on Hawaii's Big Island, where she was being treated for alcohol issues and PTSD.

She has been charged with second-degree murder over the April 3 death of her boyfriend Christian Obumseli, 27, at the home they shared in Miami.

Clenney insisted that she stabbed Obumseli in self defense after he grabbed her by the throat.

Prosecutors in Florida on Thursday released video of Clenney attacking Obumseli in an elevator on February 21, but Clenney's lawyer Frank Prieto said the video was 'irrelevant and likely inadmissible'.

Model Courtney Clenney was arrested at a rehab clinic - where she was seeking help for substance abuse and PTSD - in Laupahoehoe on Monday morning

 Model Courtney Clenney was arrested at a rehab clinic - where she was seeking help for substance abuse and PTSD - in Laupahoehoe on Monday morning

Obumseli's family do not believe that he was threatening to harm his girlfriend Clenney

Obumseli's family do not believe that he was threatening to harm his girlfriend Clenney

'It is a shame that the State Attorney's Office is seeking to win this case in the court of public opinion by showing an irrelevant and likely inadmissible video of Courtney in an elevator getting physical with Obumseli,' said Prieto.

'The video does not depict the events leading up to what was captured in the elevator.'

He insisted that the violence was meted out by the Texan cryptocurrency trader, not his client.

'Obumseli was the abuser, the worst kind of abuser,' he said.

'He would manipulate and abuse Courtney in private when he thought nobody was around.'

Prieto pointed to a witness who said Obumseli hit Clenney.

Other witnesses have said the opposite.

Prieto admitted that the pair, who had been dating for less than two years, had 'a tumultuous relationship'.

But he insisted Clenney was not the aggressor, and accused prosecutors of trying to turn public opinion against the social media influencer.

'It is inappropriate for prosecutors to try and taint the community against Courtney to the point she may not be able to receive a fair trial,' Prieto said.

'The charging decision in this matter should have been made on the evidence of what occurred that evening in the apartment and nothing more.

'This is a case of self defense and the facts that will be presented at trial will prove this.'

Prieto spoke out after prosecutors released a tranche of evidence they had found to support their case against Clenney.

Footage shows Courtney Clenney, 26, attack Christian Obumseli, 27, two months before she killed him in Miami

Footage shows Courtney Clenney, 26, attack Christian Obumseli, 27, two months before she killed him in Miami

She pounded the touch screen before slapping him and pulling his hair as he desperately tried to fend off her blows

She pounded the touch screen before slapping him and pulling his hair as he desperately tried to fend off her blows

She jumped up and grabbed his hair from behind, wrenching his head backwards before punching him in the side of the head

She jumped up and grabbed his hair from behind, wrenching his head backwards before punching him in the side of the head

A search for her exclusive content shows that it is 'no longer available' but her Instagram account - with two million followers - remains online

A search for her exclusive content shows that it is 'no longer available' but her Instagram account - with two million followers - remains online

Clenney allegedly stabbed Obumseli (pictured together) to death at their luxury apartment in the One Paraiso building in Edgewater, Miami, on April 3

Clenney allegedly stabbed Obumseli (pictured together) to death at their luxury apartment in the One Paraiso building in Edgewater, Miami, on April 3

It included allegations the couple had broken up multiple times between January and the start of April.

She had allegedly kicked him out of their luxury apartment in the last week of March, just days before she killed him.

The documents also told how they would have furious rows when they lived in Austin, Texas, with her allegedly flinging a huge painting from their balcony.

Courtney Clenney is pictured in a police mugshot in Hawaii

Courtney Clenney is pictured in a police mugshot in Hawaii

And they appear to dismiss the model's claim she threw the knife which killed Obumseli across the room from over 10ft away, saying the attack was launched from close proximity.

Clenney was found by police coated in blood in her Miami condo, but was released because it was thought she had acted in self defense.

The new one-minute video shows the couple enter the elevator as Clenney hits the touch screen inside, to chose a floor.

Obumseli appeared to try to calm her down but she turned to him and slapped him and pushed him multiple times.

She jumped up and grabbed his hair from behind, wrenching his head backwards before punching him in the side of the head.

Obumseli tucked her under his arm and tried to restrain her, before pressing the elevator button for their floor.

But she continued to launch repeated attacks on him as he tried to block her blows.

Clenney kept up her attack even as the doors opened and they spilled out into the corridor while appearing to shout at each other.

The victim tucked her under his arm and tried to restrain her before pressing the elevator button for their floor

The victim tucked her under his arm and tried to restrain her before pressing the elevator button for their floor

But she continued to launch repeated attacks on him as he tried to block her vicious blows

But she continued to launch repeated attacks on him as he tried to block her vicious blows

Clenney kept up her attack even as the doors opened and they spilled out into the corridor while appearing to shout at each other

Clenney kept up her attack even as the doors opened and they spilled out into the corridor while appearing to shout at each other

The footage was disclosed in unsealed documents from Miami-Dade prosecutors as they published their evidence in their murder case against the model.

It outlines the couple's turbulent relationship, saying they had broken up multiple times since they moved to a 22nd floor condo in Miami in January.

They spoke to witnesses who told how they would loudly row into the night, with so many neighbors complaining about them an eviction notice was sought.

When they broke up in March and Clenney evicted boyfriend from the apartment, Clenney's mother Deborah came to stay with her.

The couple 'rekindled their relationship' on April 1 and he moved back in, but the arrest warrant says 'arguments began almost immediately'.

Officers were called that same night and Clenney 'appeared intoxicated', though no arrests were made.

Two days later - the day Obumseli died - it had 'began peacefully', with the couple 'playing

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