Welcome to my Crime and Justice blog! I am a 19 year old criminal justice student at the University of Winnipeg. I advocate for prisoners' rights, human rights, equality and criminal justice/prison system reforms.

Monday, April 19, 2010

Ex-Bisons football star charged with manslaughter


WINNIPEG — Former University of Manitoba Bison/Winnipeg Rifles football star Jeremy Botelho has been charged with manslaughter in the death of Kelly Clay at the Nor-Villa Motor Hotel last week.
Botelho, 23, remains in custody at the Provincial Remand Centre after turning himself in to police following the incident.
Clay, a lacrosse star in high school, died of his injuries after being rushed to hospital on April 15. He was struck once in the head from behind, fell forward and struck his face on the tile floor.
Botelho was seen running out of the building through the beer vendor into the parking lot. A product of Sisler High School, Botelho — a rookie with the Bisons last year — made headlines last fall after returning a missed field goal 129 yards for a touchdown in a game against Simon Fraser University.
But in February he resigned from the Bison football program.

Ex-Bison formally charged in death
A manslaughter charge has been formally laid against an ex-U of M Bison football player in a bar death last week.
Jeremy Botelho, 23, was scheduled to appear in court Monday morning.
He's been in custody since he turned himself in to police Friday.
Botelho is charged in the death of Kelly Clay, an 18-year-old high school student.
Clay was assaulted at the Nor-Villa Motor Hotel bar early Thursday.
Bar owner Gilber Gauthier said Clay was sucker-punched once in the head behind his ear.
He fell and hit his face on a tile dance floor, Gauthier said.
The male suspect fled.
Botelho, a receiver and kick returner, was a high school and junior football star before he joined the Bisons for the 2009 season.
He set a kick-return record and was a conference all-star but informed the team's coaching staff in February he was leaving the Bisons.
The team didn't disclose Botelho's reason.

Former Bison star to apply for bail
A former University of Manitoba Bisons football player charged with manslaughter is expected to apply for bail Tuesday morning.
Jeremy Botelho, 23, has been in custody since Friday when he turned himself in to police.
Kelly Clay, an 18-year-old high school student and lacrosse player, died early Thursday morning following an altercation at the Nor-Villa Motor Hotel bar. Clay was allegedly “sucker punched” in the head, then fell and hit his head on the tile dance floor.
A Crown attorney opposed Botelho’s request that his bail hearing be heard Monday, saying he needed another day to review several witness statements.
“I have six or seven witness statements to go through by tomorrow before we can put all the facts before you fairly,” prosecutor Rustyn Ullrich told Judge Judy Elliott.
Botelho, a receiver and kick returner, was a high school and junior football star before he joined the Bisons for the 2009 season.
He set a CIS record when he returned a missed field goal 129 yards for a Bisons touchdown and was a conference all-star but informed the team’s coaching staff in February he was leaving the Bisons.
Botelho has also practiced with the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

This man has no prior criminal record and a simple punch, likely brought about by alcohol at the bar, caused the deceased man to fall to the ground and later die of his injuries. This accused is NOT dangerous in my opinion and should not be held in custody. He should be released with bail as I believe he is truly not a danger to society.

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