On 16/3, the Da Nang City People's Court sentenced Do Trong Lap, 44, to 7 years in prison and Dang Van Tuan, 45, to 5 years for murder. Phung Tan Dinh, 41, received two years and six months, and Ho Thang Hung, 39, received two years for disturbing public order.

The four defendants at the trial. Photo: Anh Chi

According to the indictment, on the afternoon of 22/12/2023, Lap, Tuan, and a group of friends went to Song Que restaurant in Ngu Hanh Son ward. They ate, drank, and requested the owner to call female staff to provide a beer pouring service for an agreed price of 300,000 dong per person.

At 21:15 the same day, when settling the bill, one customer in the group refused the agreed price, offering only 100,000 dong per person. This individual also verbally abused the female staff, leading to a heated argument.

A female staff member then called Phung Tan Dinh for assistance. Dinh, along with Ho Thang Hung, arrived at the restaurant carrying a knife and a wooden stick, seeking out the customer group.

A brawl erupted between the two sides. During the chaos, Tuan threw a wooden chair, hitting Dinh's thigh and causing him to fall. Lap then used a knife to stab Dinh, inflicting a 14% injury.

The indictment further stated that Dinh and Hung used a knife and a wooden stick to smash tables and chairs and confront Lap's group. This caused customers and staff to flee in panic, disrupting the restaurant's operations.

Ngoc Truong