Family of man charged in fatal stabbing of twins claims self-defense after newly released video
Police say Samyia Spain was killed, and her twin sister was stabbed in the arm, after their rejection to advances by Veo Kelly caused him to become violent.
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New video that is being shared by the family of a man charged for attacking twin sisters outside a Park Slope deli in 2024 is being used for claims of self-defense.
Police say Samyia Spain was killed, and her twin sister was stabbed in the arm, after their rejection to advances by Veo Kelly caused him to become violent.
Now, Kelly's loved ones say video showing the moments before anyone was stabbed — will tell a different story.
The video shows a group of five girls, including the twins, fighting Kelly - who was 20 years old at the time - on an early morning in March.
"They're literally stomping him out,” said Faith Kelly, sister of the suspect. “They're acting as savages. It was five to six females jumping on him. He just got out of a wheelchair two weeks prior to that situation, so there was no way he could just jump up."
At one point, the video shows a friend of the suspect holding him back, when two of the girls approach him again and are knocked back.
Another girl pulls out a knife, although never appearing to use it.
Kelly's sister Faith said that should've been enough.
"Anyone who saw that video can definitely say it was an act of self-defense,” said Kelly. “It seems like they were antagonizing the situation."
However, the video captures only the moments before Samyia and Sanyia were stabbed by Kelly.
At that point, it appears that both groups were already dispersed—raising questions about what happened in between that time.
"They're not showing the actual part of where he came from the rave and went into the store and how it started,” said Yvette Ramos, a friend of the Spain family. “You all didn't show him in the store and what they went through in the store."
Ramos, speaking on behalf of the twins' mom said Kelly was always the initial aggressor. In the end, she believes he came back around with clear intentions.
"They got out the store and he came back by himself,” said Ramos. “His friends didn't come back with him, so his intention was he was going to hurt one of them, and he did. He stabbed both of them and one passed away."
Kelley is currently being held in Rikers Island.
