In the twenty-first century, social media has become a large part of many people’s lives. Websites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and others give its subscribers the ability to follow friends and family as well as politicians and celebrities to see what they’re up to and virtually become a part of their daily lives. Facebook is by far the most popular of these services with a subscribership of over half a billion users.
One of the most popular elements of Facebook is the ability for people to post images that are shared with family and friends. Pictures of new born babies, weddings and other happy occasions saturate the Facebook pages of many of its participants. But in the case of Derek Medina, it led to his arrest.
Medina, 31 allegedly posted a picture of Jennifer Alfonso, 26, his lifeless wife on his Facebook page after fatally shooting her in their South Miami townhouse. He added a caption to the photo writing “RIP Jennifer Alfonso.” The graphic picture displays a woman collapsed on the kitchen floor, her legs twisted backward, lying on her back with blood on her cheek and left arm.
Following his posting of the image he wrote * “Im going to prison or death sentence for killing my wife love you guys miss you guys takecare Facebook people you will see me in the news” my wife was punching me and I am not going to stand anymore with the abuse so I did what I did I hope u understand me”
After completing the grisly Facebook session Medina changed his clothes and then informed unspecified relatives; confessing to the murder. Next, he turned himself in to the South Miami Police which handed the case over to the Miami-Dade Police Department.
Medina showed up at the police station and told police that he killed his wife that morning after they were involved in a domestic squabble. When police arrived at the scene they found Ms. Alfonso inside the home located at the 5500 block of Southwest 67th Avenue in Miami dead on the floor with multiple gunshot wounds.
The arrest report stated that Medina was in his bedroom when he took a gun from his closet, faced Alfonso and pointed the gun at her. She then left the bedroom only to come back a short time later telling Medina that she was leaving him. At this point, she left the room and went downstairs into the kitchen as Medina followed her without the gun. According to Medina, she then began to punch him so he went back to the bedroom and retrieved the firearm. When he returned to the kitchen he alleged that Alfonso wielded a knife but he was able to wrestle it away from her. After the knife was taken away from her, she began punching him again and it was then that he began firing his gun at her.
At the time of the shooting Alfonso’s 10-year-old daughter was in the townhouse. Police made no comment as to whether or not she was a witness to crime but affirmed the child uninjured.
In Medina’s first court appearance Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Maria Elena Verde denied him bail. When questioned whether he would be pursuing a private attorney, he originally said, “I am in the process of talking to someone,” but a short time after his statement decided to accept representation by a public defender.
Medina is charged with first-degree murder. His next court appearance was scheduled for three weeks from this appearance.
*Grammatical and spelling errors in Medina’s above quote were not corrected.
An allegation of first-degree murder is one of the most serious charges that can be brought against an individual. A conviction in the State of Florida can carry the likelihood of life in prison without the possibility of parole or conceivably the death penalty.
If you, a friend or a loved one is facing allegations of first-degree murder or any Capital crime it is essential that a knowledgeable criminal attorney is retained as soon as possible.
Mr. Cohen is a board certified criminal trial lawyer rated AV by Martindale Hubbel (pre-eminent) and a “Super Lawyer” recognized as being in the top 5% of his specialized field (criminal trial law) among Florida lawyers. He is considered a specialist by the Florida Bar in his field. Mr. Cohen has tried scores of cases over his 35 year career and is a member of the Florida and New York Bars. He practices in Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach and Miami, among other counties. He is also admitted to practice in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh and Second Circuit.
Mr. Cohen’s practice has recently expanded and he is now a partner in the prestigious law firm of McLaughlin & Stern, LLP. Through this partnership, Mr. Cohen can now lead your defense in the New York Metropolitan area in addition to the Broward, Dade, or Palm Beach County areas as well as all other jurisdictions throughout the state of Florida
Mr. Cohen is also listed in the 2013 edition of “Best Lawyers in America”