Miami Man Stabs Wife, Barricades Himself in Home
Police have arrested a Miami man for stabbing his wife to death, the barricading himself into his apartment.
City of Miami officers responded to a report that a woman had suffered stab wounds at 135 NW 26th Avenue. Police found her under an awning, behind a home. Miami Police spokesperson Kenia Reyes stated, “It all stemmed from domestic violence.”
The woman was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, where she later died. The victim was 33-year-old Eileen Lozano. Her common law husband Lazuro Bernabeu, 49, had a long history of domestic violence.
When the police arrived, Lozano though critically injured, told police that her 10-year-old daughter was with her husband, who had just only recently been released from prison.
Bernabeu barricaded himself in his apartment. At 11:25 in the morning, Bernabeu told negotiators that he wanted to say good-bye to his son who was at school at the time. SWAT moved in, using a battering ram to knock through the front door. The girl escaped from the home unharmed.
Bernabeu has a lengthy criminal past of domestic violence, including battery and kidnapping charges. He is now facing first-degree murder.
Florida Statute 741.28 defines domestic violence as “any assault, battery, sexual assault, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family member or household member by another who is or was residing in the same single dwelling unit.”
Domestic violence is a term that can be used to describe a wide array of crimes, including assault, aggravated assault, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, battery, aggravated battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, false imprisonment, kidnapping, or any other criminal offense that results in physical injury or death of a family or household member, by family/household member.
Domestic violence is a crime that crosses all racial, generational and ethnic boundaries. The statistics for these crimes continue to grow at an alarming rate. Reports show that one out of every three women will become the victim of at least one assault during the lifetime. Sadly, children witness 80% of all domestic violence incidents.
Most domestic violence cases often involve an assault and/or battery charges. These charges can be classified as either a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the particular situation. Penalties include up to one year in jail for a misdemeanor, to life in prison in some cases for a felony conviction.
If you have been charged with domestic violence, it is important to seek qualified legal guidance. With the help of a Miami domestic violence lawyer from our team, first time offenders could be eligible for a pretrial diversion or treatment program, where charges can be reduced or even dropped. Often domestic violence cases involve false accusations against the defendant. An experienced Miami domestic violence lawyer can prove that you are credible and prove your innocence. Our distinguished record defending domestic violence charges speaks for itself. Contact our office today for more information and to arrange for a free consultation at 305-571-9800.
