Ex-PBA import cleared of frustrated homicide

Former Philippine Basketball Association import Jamelle Isaac Cornley has been cleared of the frustrated homicide complaint filed by his Filipino girlfriend in October last year but will still be facing trial for domestic violence.

The Quezon City prosecutor’s office has dismissed the complaint against the American professional cager, who used to play for Rain Or Shine and was also arrested in March 2013 for causing damage at St. William’s Hotel on Timog Avenue and assaulting a police officer in a fit of rage after allegedly being robbed by his female room companions.

Assistant City Prosecutor Diovie Macaraig-Calderon said the 25-year-old complainant failed to show up during the preliminary investigation, where she was expected to present additional evidence against Cornley.

The woman earlier alleged that Cornley slapped her, threatened to cut her throat with a knife and push her off her 15th-floor condo unit on E. Rodriguez Avenue, Barangay Kalusugan.

“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,” Calderon said in a resolution.

Earlier, Assistant City Prosecutor Rodrigo del Rosario held the frustrated homicide complaint for further investigation but had Cornley indicted for violating the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.

Cornley has posted bail at P12,000 for the second case, which is pending before Judge Roslyn Tria of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 94.

Calderon agreed with Del Rosario’s findings that the complainant’s injury appeared to be slight and not enough to constitute frustrated homicide.