MIAMI – A South Florida model involved in the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend has been arrested.
The stabbing happened on April 3 in an apartment just off Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 32nd Street in Miami.
An attorney representing Courtney Clenney said the stabbing was in self-defense.
Local 10 News learned Wednesday that she was arrested in Hawaii and is facing a murder charge.
Police said they found Clenney’s boyfriend, 27-year-old Christian Obumseli, covered in blood in the apartment.
He was rushed to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Video from a neighboring apartment showed Clenney, then-25 years old but now 26, on the balcony of the apartment, her clothes and skin splattered with blood.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office joined the investigation several weeks after the incident.
Just hours after the arrest, Clenney’s attorney sent Local 10 News a statement which read, in part:
“Obumseli attacked her and choked her that evening; Courtney had no choice but to meet force with force. Further, we are disappointed that the State Attorney sought an arrest warrant in this matter.”
In April, a neighbor told Local 10 News he had a clear view of the couple’s apartment and saw Clenney getting physically abused.
Police confirmed that they responded to multiple disturbance calls at the apartment.
Obumseli’s family says he was not abusive and have been calling for an arrest in the case.
Authorities have not revealed what led them to make an arrest four months after the killing.
Clenny’s lawyer says she was in Hawaii seeking treatment for PTSD and related issues to this case.
Local 10 News has asked police and the State Attorney’s Office about a timeline on when she might be extradited back to Miami and what exactly led them to seek a murder charge.
The State Attorney’s Office plans to hold a news conference Thursday at 2:30 p.m. where they will unseal the arrest warrant.
Back in April, Clenney’s attorney released a statement on his client’s behalf, which read:
“Since the events of that tragic night, Courtney has been filled with absolute grief and despair. Courtney is mourning the loss of Mr. Obumseli, in private, out of respect for his family. There is nothing we can say to alleviate the pain his family is going through; however, their calls for justice and an arrest in this matter are misplaced. Justice in this matter calls for no arrest or charges. It is absolutely irresponsible for the family’s attorney (who was not present and has not seen the evidence in this case) to allege that the detective’s decision not to make an arrest is “inexcusable.” The City of Miami Police Department thoroughly investigated this matter and reviewed all the evidence in making their determination. There is competent and substantial evidence that Courtney is the victim of domestic violence and possibly human trafficking. There is no doubt the two of them had a tumultuous relationship; moreover, there is evidence that Courtney was a victim of physical, emotional, and mental abuse at the hands of Obumseli. That night was no different and Courtney had the right to defend herself out of fear for her life. Courtney cooperated with the investigators and her actions were clearly self-defense.”
His latest statement can be read in full below:
“We are completely shocked at Courtney’s arrest based upon the clear evidence of self defense in this matter. Obumseli attacked her and choked her that evening; Courtney had no choice but to meet force with force. Further, we are disappointed that the State Attorney sought an arrest warrant in this matter; we have cooperated with the investigation from the beginning with both the State and the City of Miami Police Department. We have always offered to self-surrender if charges were filed in an effort to begin the legal process of clearing her of the charges.
“Courtney was seeking treatment for her PTSD and related issues to this case and it is an absolute injustice to charge a victim of domestic violence and human trafficking with a crime; Courtney was clearly defending herself. We will vigorously defend Courtney and clear her of this unfounded and baseless charge.”