Hamilton, New Zealand – A transgender woman named Jazz \u2018Ra\u2019 Rima-Samuels has been denied home detention after being convicted of assaulting her partner with a claw hammer. Rima-Samuels, who was known as David Rima-Samuels in court, argued that prison was not suitable due to her gender identity.<\/p>\n
During the hearing at the Hamilton District Court, Rima-Samuels’ lawyer, Kerry Tustin, claimed that she had been a long-time victim of her partner’s violence. Tustin pleaded with the judge not to send her client to jail, citing the challenges Rima-Samuels faced in prison as a transgender individual.<\/p>\n
Tustin argued that due to Rima-Samuels’ gender identity, she did not fit into either male or female facilities, making her time in prison especially difficult. Rima-Samuels’ lawyer emphasized the impact of her sexual orientation on her mental and emotional well-being, stating that being transgender was not a choice.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred on the evening of October 6, when Rima-Samuels visited her partner’s property. An argument ensued, leading to Rima-Samuels striking her partner with a claw hammer multiple times, causing significant injuries. The victim managed to retreat inside the house as Rima-Samuels continued to behave aggressively.<\/p>\n
Police were alerted to the scene after hearing Rima-Samuels’ alarming statement, "I f**<\/strong> killed him with a hammer." The victim was found with severe head injuries, inflicted by Rima-Samuels during the altercation. Despite acknowledging the history of domestic violence between the couple, the crown solicitor emphasized the severity of the assault.<\/p>\n In his ruling, Judge Noel Cocurullo condemned the violence, noting the dangerous nature of the attack. He ultimately sentenced Rima-Samuels to 19 months in prison, declining to convert the sentence to home detention. The judge underscored the seriousness of the crime, regardless of the circumstances leading to the assault.<\/p>\n This case sheds light on the challenges faced by transgender individuals within the criminal justice system and the complexities of ensuring their safety and well-being in prison environments. The decision not to grant home detention underscores the gravity of the offense committed by Rima-Samuels and emphasizes the importance of accountability in cases of domestic violence.<\/p>\n Belinda Feek is an Open Justice reporter with extensive experience covering legal matters, who has provided insightful reporting on a variety of cases over the course of her career.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hamilton, New Zealand – A transgender woman named Jazz \u2018Ra\u2019 Rima-Samuels has been denied home detention after being convicted of assaulting her partner with a claw hammer. Rima-Samuels, who was known as David Rima-Samuels in court, argued that prison was not suitable due to her gender identity. During the hearing at the Hamilton District Court, Rima-Samuels’ lawyer, Kerry Tustin, claimed that she had been a long-time victim of her partner’s violence. Tustin pleaded with the … <\/p>\n