Courts / Cork / Report
Man jailed for raping wife after she told him she wanted to separate
Summary
In a Central Criminal Court hearing on 24 March 2025, Riad Hamzi, aged 51, was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment for a single count of rape that occurred on 19 August 2020. The victim, Elena O'Brien, testified that she had told Hamzi she wanted to separate; he denied the allegation, claiming the sex was consensual, but then punched her twice, raped her, and forced his fist into her mouth. Hamzi's sentence was back‑dated to 20 December 2024, when he entered custody, and the final year of the term was suspended for three years on strict conditions. The judge cited the relationship between the parties, the victim's impact statement, and the violence beyond the rape as aggravating factors, while noting Hamzi's health issues, long work history and character witnesses as mitigating. O'Brien's impact statement described ongoing PTSD, sleep difficulties and financial hardship following the assault. The court expressed well‑wishes to O'Brien for the future. Riad Hamzi was convicted.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man jailed for raping wife after she told him she wanted to separate. Charges or matters: rape. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- August 19, 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
- December 20 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-03-24 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: rape (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; Mr Justice Paul Burns today imposed a sentence of nine years on Hamzi, of Elmvale Court, Wilton, Cork, with the final year suspended for three years on strict conditions.
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