A MAN's bail has been extended after he pleaded guilty to a charge of kidnapping and one charge of intentionally causing injury for his role in an incident that ended in a fatal stabbing.
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Bo Kevin Valli, 25, pleaded guilty to the charges in relation to the kidnapping and assault of one man that resulted in the fatal stabbing of another at One Tree Hill on March 15, 2019.
Jara Lee Rice Dix and Benjamin Keith Judge were jailed in December 2020 for the kidnapping and assault of a 19-year-old man, that ended in the stabbing death of another in 2019. Each was jailed for up to three years and four months.
Harley Dix and Benjamin Judge are both appealing their sentence.
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Valli's defence on Thursday argued his client had played a "limited role" in the incident. He argued Valli should receive a non-custodial sentence, or a combination of custodial sentence and community corrections order.
In January, a court heard that Harley Dix, Jara Dix and Benjamin Judge planned to kidnap a 19-year-old man, assault him, and leave him tied to a tree in the bush for days over his perceived mistreatment of a family member.
On the night of March 15, 2019, Jara Dix and Benjamin Judge took the victim into bushland at One Tree Hill on the pretence of smoking a bong.
Judge's brother 24-year-old Steven Judge went as well, although he was not part of the plan.
Benjamin Judge had packed a tool box, ropes, chains, a sledgehammer, and tarp in the boot of the car before they left.
Once at One Tree Hill, the four shared a bong before Benjamin Judge tied a chain to a tree.
He then went to the victim with a sledgehammer and dragged him to the ground, where he and his brother assaulted him.
The victim was dragged towards the tree and the assault continued, while Jara Dix yelled out, "You shouldn't have f***ed with the family".
Judge Patricia Riddell found the victim was hit at least once with the sledgehammer, police having found his blood on its head.
The victim tried to run but Benjamin Judge put him in a choke hold and he started to black out.
He feared he could die and took out a kitchen knife from his pocket before stabbing Steven Judge, who was on top of him, three times.
The victim ran into the bushes while Jara Dix and Benjamin Judge tried to seek help for Steven Judge. Paramedics were called but the man died at the scene.
The kidnapping victim was found hiding in a shed the next day.
He suffered multiple abrasions, bruises, and cuts to his head and body, including an injury that required stitches.
Court documents state Valli had issues with the victim, who had shared a house with both he and Harley Dix.
On Thursday, defence counsel Charles Morgan called for a non-custodial sentence, or a combination of custodial and non-custodial. He said his client played a "limited role" in the incident.
Mr Morgan said Jara Dix had asked Valli if she could use his car, which was already in either Jara or Harley Dix's possession.
Mr Morgan said Valli expected it would be Jara giving the victim "a touch up".
Mr Morgan referenced a psychiatric report, saying it confirmed that Valli suffered from an intellectual disability which had the effect of impairing his social reasoning and social judgements.
He said Valli's home life and childhood had been affected by witnessing "domestic discord" between his parents, and suffering from the effects of their drug and alcohol dependence.
Mr Morgan said Valli had "a real incentive" to do what he could to get out of his situation, saying his new partner had recently had a baby, which had been taken away as a result of their intellectual disabilities.
Mr Morgan said both were determined to receive the child into their care.
He said Valli had accepted from an early point that he would plead guilty to something.
Mr Morgan submitted that delay in court processes should also play some part in mitigating his client's sentence.
County Court judge Patricia Riddell extended Valli's bail, in light of a sentence appeal made by two parties already jailed for their role in the incident.
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