Husband jailed for throwing acid over police attending domestic siege at Port Sorell

A Port Sorell man — known as Diplomat Dan — who threw acid at four Special Operations Group police officers during a domestic siege in 2021 has been sentenced. The details >>

Daniel Victor Gandini, 44, ‘Diplomat Dan’, has been sentenced after throwing acid on police officers during a siege at Port Sorell in 2021.

A Port Sorell man who threw acid at four Special Operations Group police officers during a domestic siege in 2021 has been jailed for three and half years.

Daniel Victor Gandini, 44, who asked to be called “Diplomat Dan” during his trial, was found guilty by a jury of two counts of assaulting his wife, and four counts of intending to cause bodily harm.

The court heard that Gandini, who Chief Justice Alan Blow referred to as “Dan” throughout the case, had shoved his wife in the chest and poured a glass of water over her following a heated argument.

Gandini’s wife then fled the family home and called 000, telling police that her husband had barricaded himself inside the house with weapons, and had said “I’ll be ready for war if anyone comes to get me.”

Daniel Victor Gandini, 44, ‘Diplomat Dan’, has been sentenced after throwing acid on police officers during a siege at Port Sorell in 2021.

Police vehicles were dispatched to the Port Sorell address from Devonport, Latrobe, Sheffield, and Railton, with officers from both the Special Operations Group and Bomb Response Squad also arriving.

When police negotiators eventually made contact with the Gandini by telephone and by text message, he told them he was not willing to come out of the house.

Chief Justice Blow said senior officers ultimately decided upon a plan to disable the home’s security cameras, blow open the front door using a small explosive, and arrest the defendant.

“At about 9.20pm four officers approached the residence and smashed the security cameras, using a ladder to reach the highest one,” Chief Justice Blow said.

“The explosive charge was placed at the front door. It was subsequently detonated.

“After the destruction of the door Dan came through the front doorway and confronted four officers from the Special Operations Group.”

One officer standing at the front of the group gave evidence that he saw the defendant appear with a container and throw a liquid, which went into his right eye and burnt his face.

The court heard that police protective equipment which was struck by the liquid began to burn or melt.

Soon after throwing the acid, Gandini was arrested and detained by police.

In sentencing, Chief Justice Blow said that despite the defendant clearly suffering from a mental disorder at the time of his crimes, throwing acid onto police was a dangerous act that could have resulted in more significant damage.

“The only appropriate sentence is a substantial sentence of imprisonment,” Chief Justice Blow said.

“Because of the mitigating factors that I have referred to, particularly Dan’s mental health at the time in question, I will impose a significantly shorter sentence than would otherwise be appropriate, and fix the shortest possible non-parole period.”

Gandini was sentenced to three years and six months’ imprisonment, backdated to 22 January 2023, and will not be eligible for parole until he had served 21 months.