The case of a tradie who kidnapped his boss’s children after allegedly suffering “constant” abuse will face a significant delay after his lawyers raised the prospect of mental impairment.
Jiangang Ji, 38, returned before the Victorian County Court on Wednesday after a jury found him guilty earlier this year.
Ji had pleaded guilty to several charges, including kidnapping and false imprisonment, but denied several others, including assaulting his boss’s wife with a knife.
His barrister, Carmela Pezzimenti, asked the court to adjourn the case after receiving a psychologist’s report that claimed Ji was suffering from mental impairment at the time.
She said the psychologist was limited in the conclusions she reached after “difficulties” in testing Ji due to a language barrier and prison protocols.
Previously, the court was told Ji claimed he had snapped under constant verbal abuse and psychological pressure from his boss over a two-year period.
During an interview after his arrest, he told police he “hated” his boss and wanted to teach him a lesson.
“As soon as I did it, I regret what I have done and I realise how serious kidnapping kids (was),” he said.
Ms Pezzimenti said further testing was needed to back up the mental impairment claim that would be an important factor in Judge Gabriele Cannon’s sentence.
“Given the significance of those conclusions … we’re unfortunately in the position where we’re asking for an adjournment,” she said.
“There is testing to assess that. My client should have the benefit of that being before the court.”
During Ji’s trial, the court was told the plasterer broke into his boss’s home, tied up his wife and kidnapped their two children on August 23, 2021.
Armed with a knife and duct tape, he waited outside until the man left for work in the early hours of the morning.
The alarm was raised after the wife, still bound and gagged, managed to escape the home and flag down passers-by.
About 12 hours later Ji was arrested at his Mitcham home while loading the two children back into the family’s Mercedes-Benz.
The jury was told Ji had admitted to making a ransom demand during his interview but claimed it was only to “scare” his boss.
“Give me $1m, I’ll give the kids back, otherwise I’ll destroy the car and the kids,” he said.
In court, Judge Cannon said while it was “regrettable” for the case to be delayed, she agreed it was important to have all the evidence necessary before handing down a sentence.
“Mr Ji is facing a significant sentence in any case,” she said.
“It would be best to act in the light of the best possible information.”
Judge Cannon ordered Ji’s mental state at the time of the offending and risk of committing further crimes be assessed by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health.
Ji will return to court in mid-October.
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