Since then, Courtney claims to have acted in self-defense, with her lawyer. Frank Prieto reiterating the claim in a statement to E! News after his arrest.
“Obumseli attacked and strangled her that evening; Courtney had no choice but to respond to force with force,” the attorney said at the time. “There is no doubt that they both had a tumultuous relationship; furthermore, there is evidence that Courtney was the victim of physical, emotional and mental abuse at the hands of Obumseli.”
He added: “Courtney was clearly defending herself. We will vigorously defend Courtney and clear her of this baseless and baseless accusation.”
Christian’s family and legal team, however, have argued otherwise.
In an April 2022 interview with rolling stoneObumseli family lawyer Larry Handfield alleged that the attack was “unprovoked”, while Christian’s brother Jeffrey Obumseli said in an August 2022 statement on Instagram that his brother was “unarmed when Clenney brutally stabbed him in the chest from behind.”
(E! News and NBC News are both part of the NBCUniversal family.)
