CHIEF Prosecutor Chester Hinds has requested the Superior Court to order Aimin Zhang to take his prescribed medicine.
Hinds said Zhang was prescribed medication in order to regain competency, but the defendant has refused.
Zhang is charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, assault and battery, and disturbing the peace.
“The single issue this motion seeks to address is having the court enter an order requiring defendant to take his prescribed medication to regain competency or to have such medication involuntarily administered,” the prosecutor said.
Hinds titled his motion “filed under seal,” but Associate Judge Joseph N. Camacho said “attorneys do not decide that a document is sealed.”
A party must first file a request to seal, then await if the request to seal is granted, he added.
The judge scheduled an evidentiary hearing for Friday, Sept. 2, 2022 at 10 a.m. in Courtroom 220A.
CNMI law states that if a defendant’s mental competency is not restored within 180 days, then the case shall be dismissed.
In his motion, Hinds said while information against the defendant “has not been filed, it is highly likely that a murder or manslaughter charge will be included in the information due to the victim succumbing to his injuries. These charges are significant, and therefore make the Commonwealth’s interest in bringing the accused to trial significant.”
He said the administration of drugs is unlikely to have side effects that will interfere significantly with the defendant’s ability to assist counsel in conducting a trial defense.
Hinds said an involuntary administration of medication is necessary because the defendant refuses to take the prescribed medicine.
Zhang is accused of stabbing another man at Paseo De Marianas in Garapan in March 2022.
The victim told police that prior to the incident, Zhang was sleeping on a nearby bench.
The victim said as he was passing the bench, Zhang suddenly woke up and began “acting crazy.”
The victim said Zhang “pulled out a knife from his bag and stabbed me for no reason.”
No other information about Zhang was available as of press time Thursday.
