14 DAY TRIAL // Senegal-born Bakary Camara is standing trial for the brutal murder of ex-girlfriend Rita Morelli, in New York City. Camara is claiming a curse led him to the stabbing and slashing of his 36-year-old ex.
Morelli's throat was slit open, and she suffered several stab wounds, during an incident that happened in her New York City Apartment, last November. As Camara is appearing in court today, he requested the testimony of a West African spiritual advisor be entered, the Inquisitr informs.
The man had met the victim a year before the killing. They shared a workplace, at a 7 For All Mankind clothing store. Camara worked as a security guard, while Morelli was a sales associate, trying to put herself through university at Hunter's College.
The two expats, him from Senegal and her having emigrated from Italy, became friends. For nine months, they saw each other daily, until reportedly engaging in a romantic relationship.
The woman was living with her current boyfriend at the time of her murder, and he is the one who discovered her body.
At the time of Camara's arrest, a four-page letter found in his pocket revealed he believed there was a curse upon him. He had written the curse made him do “bad things” and he felt a thirst for killing that he had never felt before. The letter also mentioned the victim by name.
“They put a curse on me. They make you do anything. Could make you die fast or go to jail. You always be made and sad. This is a curse. There is something in my mind tell me you have to do this, you have to anything bad make thing bad thing hurt people. I always think to make suicide but I can’t. I only think to get kill. I meet that girl Rita Morelli, we was very friend for nine months before we have a relationship,” the letter read.
Prosecutor Evan Krutoy is reluctant to admit the testimony of said spiritual adviser in court, believing it irrelevant. The court will rule on its admission during today's appearance.
“It is difficult to imagine how a witch doctor could be qualified in a court of law. The defense cannot credibly argue that witchcraft is a profession with scientific knowledge or skill,” the prosecution argued.