Homicide rap vs ex-PBA import junked

PBA bigman Jamelle Cornley of Columbus, Ohio, is behind bars for assaulting a policeman in this March file photo. MARIANNE BERMUDEZ/INQUIRER

MANILA, Philippines—The Quezon City prosecutor’s office has dismissed a frustrated homicide complaint against former basketball player Jamelle Isaac Cornley filed by his girlfriend in October last year.

In exonerating Cornley, who used to play for the Rain or Shine basketball team, assistant city prosecutor Diovie Macaraig-Calderon noted that the complainant did not even show up for preliminary investigation of the case despite due notice.

In addition, the ex-cager’s girlfriend failed to submit evidence to substantiate her accusations, the prosecutor said.

“Indeed there was absence of intent to kill as Cornley immediately released the complainant when the latter and her maid shouted for help. If there was intention to kill, the respondent could have easily pushed the knife into her neck or throat to kill her,” the two-page resolution said.

Cornley was arrested on Oct. 23, 2013 after he allegedly beat up the 25-year-old complainant at her condominium unit on E. Rodriguez Avenue, Barangay (village) Kalusugan.

The woman claimed that the former Philippine Basketball Association player slapped her, attempted to push her off the building’s 15th floor and even held a kitchen knife to her neck.

The complainant’s helper managed to seek assistance from policemen, who arrested Cornley.

The ex-player initially underwent inquest proceedings but assistant city prosecutor Rodrigo del Rosario recommended further investigation of the complaint for frustrated homicide.

However, Del Rosario indicted the ex-cager for violating Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act for the same incident for which Cornley posted bail of P12,000 at the sala of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 94 Judge Roslyn Tria.

In her resolution, Calderon cited lack of probable cause to indict the ex-cager on a charge of frustrated homicide as she agreed with Del Rosario’s findings that the victim’s injury appeared to be slight and not enough to constitute frustrated homicide.

The prosecutor also noted that Cornley’s girlfriend failed to appear during hearings despite being notified while Cornley was able to file his counter-affidavit seeking the dismissal of the case.

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