The family of Yolanda Saldívar, who was found guilty of killing pop star Selena Quintanilla-Perez, has suggested it was the behavior of the singer that ultimately lead to her untimely death.
Saldívar has remained behind bars for 30 years after she was convicted of the first-degree murder of Selena at a Days Inn hotel in Corpus Christi, Texas, on March 31, 1995.
Selena was just 23 years old when she died, and had made a name for herself as the 'Queen of Tejano Music' as she found fame with her Mexican and US influences.
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Prior to Selena's death, the singer accused Saldívar of embezzling money - and now, Saldívar's family has suggested it was Selena's actions prior to her death that led to her murder.
Speaking to the New York Post shortly before a recent parole hearing, which saw a board deny Saldívar's release, a family member said: “[Yolanda] knows what she did was wrong and she takes responsibility for it. But she was reacting to the way she was confronted.
“She says that [Selena] came at her really aggressively,” they continued, alleging that the 'force' with which the singer approached her caused Saldívar to become 'thrown off'.
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"If Selena had confronted her differently, this never would have happened," they claimed.
Amid the family member's claim that Selena 'came at' Saldívar, it's worth noting that Saldívar was found to have shot the singer in the back.
Saldívar is now 64 years old, and has long maintained that Selena's death was accidental.
Her family were hopeful that she would be released after the parole hearing this month, saying they had 'never forsaken' the convicted killer, but on March 27, her petition for parole was denied.
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Documents from the parole board claimed Saldívar poses a 'continuing threat to public safety', citing the crime which had 'elements of brutality, violence, assaultive behavior or conscious selection of victim’s vulnerability indicating a conscious disregard for the lives, safety, or property of others'.
Former Nueces County Dist. Atty. Carlos Valdez, who led the prosecution against Saldívar, showed her support for keeping her behind bars.
Speaking to Houston news station KHOU11, she said: “Lord knows what will happen if she is released. Based on what I’ve seen so far, I think it would be a serious mistake to grant her parole. I believe, I really believe, that the safest for Yolanda would probably be where she is.”
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Saldívar has been subject to threats in prison for killing Selena, prompting her to be held in protective custody.
Emily Brown