A judge has described the contents of a pre-sentencing probation report on a transgender woman who threatened to torture, rape, and kill her mother as “deeply disturbing”.
The defendant, Barbie Kardashian (20), of no fixed abode, was convicted following a four-day trial last May of seven counts of threatening to kill or seriously harm her mother, Maria Luque, on various dates in 2020.
Ms Kardashian, who was born male and identifies as female, was acquitted of an additional four counts of threatening to kill or seriously harm a social care worker, Michael Mannix, on dates between 2019 and 2020.
The alleged death threats were made after Kardashian had her residency extended at Coovagh House, which is a secure unit for children aged 11-17 years who have serious psychological issues.
Ms Kardashian, who changed her name by deed poll in August 2020 from Gabriel Alejandro Gentile, appeared before Limerick Circuit on Thursday for sentencing.
Defence barrister Mark Nicholas told judge Tom O’Donnell the probation report had been completed, but a psychological report had yet to be finalised due to Kardashian’s being assessed for “a complex psychological issue”.
The judge said he had read the probation report “and I consider this to be very serious”.
“The probation report has flagged that a psychological report is as yet outstanding, and the contents of the probation report, I would say, are deeply disturbing,” the judge said.
The judge described the author of the probation report, Frank Cahill, as “a very experienced probation officer” and he reiterated that Mr Cahill’s conclusions “are a concern”.
Mr Nicholas said he expected the psychological report to be completed within the next seven weeks.
Judge O’Donnell remanded Kardashian in continuing custody for sentencing on November 7th.
Kardashian, who denied all the charges at her trial at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court last May, is being held in custody at the female wing of Limerick Prison, having previously been granted a certificate from the Department of Social Protection recognising her gender as female.
During the trial, Mr Nicholas said he accepted Kardashian had told staff at Coovagh House, at a meeting to discuss discharging her into the community, after she had turned 18, that she planned to travel to her mother’s house, overpower her, and torture her with a knife, a screwdriver and boiling water.
Mr Nicholas argued Kardashian’s plan was all “fantasy”, and he said care workers involved in her care had agreed Kardashian was diagnosed with “narcissistic personality disorder” and she would engage in “shock behaviour” in order “to get attention”.
Staff told the court they were also aware Kardashian had suffered alleged sexual abuse as a child.
Mr Nicholas told the trial Kardashian had had a “horrible” life, and had been in State care since she was 10 years old.
Following the jury verdicts last May, Judge Tom O’Donnell said he had “concerns” that Kardashian might, at some point, after her sentence is completed “be left to their own devices” and he sought guidance from the probation service about a long-term plan for Kardashian.