MIAMI, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Derek Medina, the Florida man who posted a photo of his dead wife's body on Facebook, was denied bail after a lengthy hearing in Miami.
Prosecutors described the killing of Jennifer Alonso, 27, as an "execution," during Tuesday's hearing, The Miami Herald reported. Defense lawyers said Medina is a victim of spousal abuse.
"Battered spouse syndrome -- it doesn't only apply to women," lawyer Saam Zangeneh said.
Medina, 31, has admitted shooting Alonso in their South Miami home in August and posting a picture of her corpse on Facebook. But he said in a statement to police that he acted in self-defense, that his wife "kept on punching me like crazy."
Prosecutors and investigators say the evidence shows Alonso was in a defensive position when she was killed, on her knees and covering her face.
"The victim appeared to be in a cowering position," Miami-Dade Detective Jonathan Grossman testified at Tuesday's hearing.
Grossman also said Medina told Alonso's former boyfriend he would kill his wife if she ever tried to leave him.
