Posted on 07/21/2005 10:23:53 AM PDT by Rodney King
The trial began Wednesday for a woman accused of slicing off her estranged boyfriend's penis. Delmy Margoth Ruiz said she attacked her ex-boyfriend because he had been unfaithful and had physically abused her.
Rene Aramando Nunez, 34, took the stand to explain to jurors how his longtime girlfriend, Ruiz, 49, mutilated him.
Ruiz, a Salvadoran immigrant, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after police said she cut off 80 percent of Nunez's penis with a kitchen knife on Oct. 29, 2004, as he slept at a northeast Houston home he co-owned with Ruiz.
If convicted, Ruiz could be sentenced up to 20 years in jail.
Nunez, the prosecution's second witness, told the jury through a court translator that he was not awake when his penis was cut off.
He said he and Ruiz lived together in a house they co-owned until she accused him of assault in 2003.
Nunez admitted that he had pleaded guilty to assaulting Ruiz, but said he had only grabbed her arm to protect himself after she threw a telephone at him. He said he never hit her. He was placed under a restraining order.
Nunez testified that he went to the house after work to deliver papers to transfer his stake in the house to Ruiz. He said he fell asleep on her bed while she was making coffee. He testified that he awoke to a burning sensation in his crotch and then passed out. When he came to later in the hospital, he learned his penis had been severed.
Under cross-examination, Ruiz's attorney accused Nunez of raping his client that morning. Nunez denied it and said he had never been violent with Ruiz in the four years they had known each other.
Ruiz's sister took the stand Wednesday afternoon. She testified that she heard Nunez crying that morning and found him doubled-up on the bed with a bloody towel covering his groin.
Prosecutors plan to present 10 witnesses. The case could go to the jury as early as Thursday.
The couple lived together in the United States for about four years, but is not believed to be legally married. Detectives said Ruiz was still married to another man in her homeland of El Salvador in November 2004.
Nunez has had two skin grafts and faces more reconstructive surgery to replace his penis.
Many of us here do that, Me included.
:-) Thanks. You're gracious.
Not always. :)
I dunno, but he'll have to change his name. I suggest "Les Johnson".
ROFLMAO Too funny.
"It was laying next to a broken toaster oven..." :-)
I suspect that alcohol had a large part in both cases. Trust me, one thing a penis has plenty of is nerves.
I ended up having to light out for a bit.
*UGH!!!*
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.