Brooklyn, New York -   Joseph Cazeau 48, a Haitian American man in Crown Heights, Brooklyn killed his mother in law, Marie Tertel after she  blew voodoo dust on him. Ms. Tertel, who was killed by one blow to the head was a voodoo priestess from Artibonite, the North East of Haiti, an area known for the practice of voodoo.  Mr. Cazeau, who has three children with Roselaine Lezancourt, Marie Tertel’s daughter called 911 and reported “I just killed my mother in law.”  Mr. Cazeau claims that his mother in law, a voodoo priestess was trying to “hex me” by blowing voodoo dust on “my face.”  

Mr. Cazeau who was arraigned in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Friday September 14, 2007 is being held without bail at Rikers Island.  Mr. Cazeau and his family have retained high-powered defense attorney Emmanuel Roy, a former Brooklyn Prosecutor, and former defense attorney for Haitian entertainer  Michel Martelly, “Sweet Micky”.

In an interview today at his office at 26 Court Street,  Brooklyn, New York, Mr. Roy said: “Mr. Cazeau acted in self defense, and the facts of the case will bear this out. He will be exonerated.”  Mr. Roy continued, “Mr. Cazeau is loving family man who loves his wife and his three children.”

Mr. Cazeau is due back in Brooklyn Criminal Court on Monday September 17, 2008 at 120 Schermerhorn Street.  His attorney is expected to renew his application for bail.