OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney attacked her boyfriend in lift months prior to his murder, police have said.
Clenney was taken into police custody on Wednesday, 10 August, in Hawaii for the offence of second-degree murder with a deadly weapon, and will eventually be extradited to Florida for a trial.
The 26-year-old, known as Courtney Tailor on Instagram where she has two million followers, had been under investigation over the April killing of her partner, Christian Obumseli, who she is said to have murdered in a domestic dispute.
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Although Clenney's attorney argued that she acted in self defence, Obumseli’s family called on authorities to arrest her, saying they believe he did not pose a threat.
Police confirmed her arrest in a statement, which reads: "Members of the Hawai‘i Police Department assisted and stood by while Clenney was taken into custody by the United States Marshals Service.
"She was arrested on the strength of an arrest warrant issued by Miami-Dade County, Florida, for the offense of murder in the second-degree with a deadly weapon.
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"Clenney is being held at the Hawai’i Police Department‘s East Hawai’i Detention Center pending her initial court appearance in Hilo District Court, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, August 11, 2022.
"She will eventually be extradited to Florida."
And now authorities have released footage of a prior violent interaction between Clenney and Obumseli in an elevator from February 2022 - two months before his death.
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Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle explained that the video shows the model as the 'primary aggressor' and may help contradict claims by her attorney, Frank Prieto, that she stabbed Obumseli in self-defense.
The video, which was released on Thursday (11 August), shows Clenney slamming what an elevator’s control panel before hitting Obumseli.
Trying to avoid her assault, he is seen pushing her back before she continues to strike him over the head.
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Meanwhile, the model's arrest arrives after a four month police investigation into the killing, when Clenney allegedly stabbed Obumseil in the chest in an argument at their luxury home in Edgewater, Miami.
A Miami Police Department spokesperson said at the time: "We know that there was a physical altercation between them before he was stabbed."
Obumseli’s family lawyer Larry Handfield previously criticised claims Clenney acted in self-defence, saying police were influenced by her 'blonde hair and blue eyes'.
He also noted the fact that she has an open warrant in California for a 2015 public intoxication case.
She was also arrested in Texas in September 2020 for driving under the influence, according to court documents.
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A GoFundMe was launched for financial assistance to cover postmortem transportation of Obumseil's body, as well as funeral arrangements, attorney fees, litigation, counselling and bills for the family.
So far, the crowdfunding page has raised nearly $82,500 of its $100,000 goal.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677.
Topics: US News
