Jury convicts woman in penis-severing case

A Houston jury today found Delmy Ruiz guilty of aggravated assault in the severing of her ex-boyfriend's penis with a knife.

Ruiz, who listened to the verdict through headphones, closed her eyes and lowered her head when she heard the verdict.

The trial now moves into the punishment phase.

Earlier today, Assistant District Attorney Mike Trent told jurors that despite Ruiz's claims of violent rape, she is still a criminal for cutting off her former boyfriend's penis.

"You don't have the right to cut it off because you've been raped. You have the right to call the police," Assistant District Attorney Mike Trent told jurors during his closing argument.

Ruiz, 49, testified Thursday that she maimed Rene Aramando Nuñez because he had raped her and then demanded oral sex. Jurors began deliberations in her aggravated assault trial shortly after 11 a.m.

Trent reminded the jury of the graphic nature of the injury.

"I don't want you to forget: She cut the entire penis off. She left a tiny little nub; that's it," Trent said.

If convicted, Ruiz could face up to 20 years in prison.

Defense attorney Tom Radosevich noted that Nuñez lied to police at first, saying that Ruiz had shown up at his workplace with flowers and asked him to come to her house so she could borrow his truck.

Nuñez said in court this week that Ruiz had asked him to come over and sign some documents. His account conflicted with hers, which said he came to her house after work and demanded food and sex.--