Evie Amati, a transgender woman, was sentenced to up to nine years in prison for attacking two people with an axe in a Sydney 7-Eleven in January 2017. The 26-year-old seriously injured a man and a woman but also swung at a third person, who was unharmed.
During the trial, Amati’s defense claimed she was not guilty due to mental health issues, arguing she was under the influence of drugs, alcohol, and medication at the time. However, the court dismissed this defense, focusing on the severity of the attacks where the victims narrowly escaped death by sheer luck, as stated by Judge Mark Williams.
The attack was captured on security footage, showing Amati first striking Ben Rimmer in the face as he waited to purchase food, causing significant facial injuries. She then assaulted Sharon Hacker by the store’s entrance, fracturing her skull.
Amati’s mental state was a point of contention; she had been transitioning from male to female and claimed her mental health deteriorated after starting hormone treatment. Despite this, the jury did not accept that she was in a state of mental derangement during the assault.
After the attacks, Amati attempted to attack another customer, Shane Redwood, who managed to protect himself with his backpack. She was apprehended soon after the incident. Amati could be considered for parole in 2021.
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