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Prison sentence for axe attacker Evie Amati from Sydney increased by five years

The “manifestly inappropriate” prison sentence of a transgender Sydney woman who attacked three strangers with an axe has been increased from nine to 14 years.

In its majority decision on Monday, the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal also increased the parole period for Evie Amati from four and a half to eight years.

The third judge wanted to increase the 27-year-old's prison sentence even further, to a maximum of 15 and a minimum of nine years.

Amati enters the 7-Eleven with an axe in his hand and strikes Benjamin Rimmer in the face and Sharon Hacker (right) in the back. Source: AAP / NSW District Court

Amati enters the 7-Eleven with an axe in his hand and strikes Benjamin Rimmer in the face and Sharon Hacker (right) in the back. Source: AAP / NSW District Court

Amati attacked Ben Rimmer and Sharon Hacker with an axe in a 7-Eleven in Enmore and then chased nearby pedestrian Shane Redwood in January 2017.

Mr Rimmer suffered a fracture of the nose, eye socket and cheekbones and bled heavily onto the floor of the petrol station shop.

The potentially fatal blow to Ms. Hacker was softened by her thick dreadlocks, while Mr. Redwood deflected the axe with his backpack.

Before the nighttime attack, Amati had a Tinder date, was ashamed of her transsexuality and consumed a cocktail of alcohol and other drugs.

Video footage shows Evie Amati stabbing two customers with an axe in a 7-Eleven supermarket in Enmore in western Sydney. Source: AAP / NSW District CourtVideo footage shows Evie Amati stabbing two customers with an axe in a 7-Eleven supermarket in Enmore in western Sydney. Source: AAP / NSW District Court

Video footage shows Evie Amati stabbing two customers with an axe in a 7-Eleven supermarket in Enmore in western Sydney. Source: AAP / NSW District Court

Defense of insanity rejected

A district court jury last year rejected her defense on the grounds of insanity and found her guilty of assault with intent to murder, attempted assault with intent to murder and aggravated assault with intent to murder.

Public prosecutor Maria Cinque had told the appeal court that the original verdict was “so manifestly inadequate that it constitutes an insult to the administration of justice”.

Judge Peter Johnson, sitting with Acting Judge Carolyn Simpson and Judge Ian Harrison, said the three offences were deliberate and separate attacks on different people.

Sharon Hacker, victim of an axe attack, outside the courthouse. Source: AAPSharon Hacker, victim of an axe attack, outside the courthouse. Source: AAP

Sharon Hacker, victim of an axe attack, was hit in the neck, but her thick dreadlocks softened the potentially fatal blow. Source: AAP

“Every victim believed that he would die, and that was indeed [Amati’s] Intention,” he said.

He noted that a number of important subjective circumstances had to be taken into account in Amati.

“She is an intelligent person with a difficult past that has led to mental health problems and made her life significantly more difficult,” he said.

“Inadequate” punishment for woman with axe doubled

Benjamin Rimmer, victim of an axe attack, leaves the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney. Benjamin Rimmer, victim of an axe attack, leaves the Downing Centre District Court in Sydney.

Benjamin Rimmer, victim of the axe attack, suffered a fractured nose, eye socket and cheekbones in the attack. Source: AAP

However, the judges agreed that the sentence imposed on them was “manifestly inappropriate”.

Outside the courtroom, Ms Hacker said she believed the original sentence did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the crime.

“I think now she at least feels like she has a chance to fix her emotional issues,” she told reporters.

Although prison was not the perfect solution for Amati, Ms Hacker said it was better than “being left in a life that you are not happy with”.

“I actually feel like I can move on with my life now, that there's a little bit more closure and that I can move on and live because that's the opportunity that was presented to me afterward.”

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