Cornley indicted for assaulting girlfriend

MANILA, Philippines - The inquest fiscal found probable cause to indict former Philippine Basketball Association import Jamelle Isaac Cornley in court after his girlfriend accused him of assaulting her on Wednesday.

Chief Superintendent Richard Albano, director of the Quezon City Police District (QCPD), said Cornley underwent inquest proceedings Thursday night for violation of the Violence Against Women and Children Law.

Albano said the fiscal upheld the arrest of the American basketball player at the woman’s house in Barangay Kalusugan on Wednesday afternoon.

Albano said Assistant Chief Prosecutor Rodrigo del Rosario set bail at P24,000 for the suspect’s temporary liberty.

As of yesterday afternoon, Cornley was still detained in the facility of the QCPD’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit at Camp Karingal.

Policemen from the QCPD Station 11 arrested Cornley at the woman’s condominium unit after the victim’s maid sought help.

Cornley, 26, allegedly threatened to kill the 25-year-old complainant, said QCPD deputy director for administration Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao.  

Inspector Edith Castro, head of the QCPD’s Women and Children Protection Desk, said Cornley was neither drunk nor under the influence of any substance when the alleged assault happened.

“It’s not what it looks like,” Cornley said Thursday when asked about the incident.

The 6-foot, 5-inch cager  was arrested by more than 10 policemen in March after punching a police officer who was accosting him for causing trouble at a hotel along Timog Avenue.