Level of violence an aggravating factor, judge says
Riad Hamzi (51) was sentenced to eight years in prison for the rape of his then-wife, Elena O'Brien, in Cork in 2020. O'Brien, who waived her anonymity, had expressed her desire to separate prior to the assault. Hamzi denied the rape, claiming the sex was consensual. The judge cited violence beyond the rape as an aggravating factor. O'Brien stated Hamzi treated her like a possession and that the rape crushed her.
