The victim's family attended the court hearing on 13/10. Photo: An Binh

Nguyen Thi Hien, the mother of student Nguyen Ngoc Bao Tran, announced on the afternoon of 15/10 that her family would appeal, requesting the appellate court to annul the verdict recently issued by the People's Court of Area 4, Vinh Long province, and order additional investigation.

Hien stated that the sentence of two years and six months in prison for Trung does not match his actions and the profound losses her family has endured. She believes the trial panel should further clarify why Trung delayed taking Tran to the emergency room after the accident, the defendant's demeanor during testimony, and the individual reportedly sitting in the truck when the incident occurred.

During the trial, both a witness and Trung himself testified that another young man in a blue shirt was in the vehicle. The family argues that this person's identity, role, and responsibility require further verification.

Additionally, the victim's family asked the court to clarify whether the 150 million dong paid as compensation came from an insurance company or Trung's family. This clarification would help determine the appropriateness of applying mitigating circumstances for the defendant.

Regarding civil damages, the plaintiffs have requested over 1,5 billion dong in compensation and indicated their acceptance of the trial panel's review and decision according to regulations.

Defendant Nguyen Van Bao Trung. Photo: An Binh

Trung was found entirely at fault but received some mitigating circumstances.

According to the verdict, on the morning of 4/9/2024, Trung was driving a truck on provincial road 901. While overtaking a car stopped on the side of the road, he encroached into the oncoming lane. Three 14-year-old female students on electric bicycles approached; Nguyen Ngoc Bao Tran collided with her friend's bike in front, fell onto the road, and was run over by the truck's wheels, resulting in her death.

The trial panel determined Trung was entirely at fault for the accident. "The defendant was fully aware of traffic safety regulations but failed to comply," the verdict stated, emphasizing that the actions led to serious consequences and required strict punishment.

The court acknowledged several mitigating circumstances for Trung: his family had paid compensation, he had a good background, no prior criminal record, and was a first-time offender. However, the trial panel also noted that Trung "did not accurately or fully declare information about the accident and did not show remorse."

Previously, during deliberations, the prosecutor's representative argued that Trung's unsafe overtaking was entirely his fault and the cause of the accident. Conversely, the victim's mother and the family's lawyer contended that the driver did not promptly help Tran after the incident. They also raised the issue of considering the charge of "intentional failure to assist a victim" under clause 2, article 260 of the Penal Code.

The trial panel later dismissed the request for additional investigation into whether Trung assisted the victim and the alleged passenger, stating there was no basis for consideration.

Nguyen Thi Hien (left) and relatives brought a photo of her daughter to the trial. Photo: An Binh

The case was initially not prosecuted.

The Tra On District Police initially did not prosecute the case. When the victim's family filed a complaint, the local prosecution agency rejected their petition.

On 28/4/2025, Nguyen Vinh Phuc, Tran's father, brought a gun to Trung's house, shot him, and then committed suicide. Trung survived but sustained severe injuries, at one point experiencing partial paralysis and near-complete loss of consciousness.

After the Supreme People's Procuracy reviewed the case file and determined that the previous rejection of the complaint lacked legal grounds, the Vinh Long Provincial Police initiated criminal proceedings. Trung was subsequently charged with violating regulations on road traffic participation.

Forensic examination results determined that Trung did not suffer from a mental illness at the time of the accident and was fully capable of perception and behavioral control. After being shot, he experienced moderate amnesia and lost the ability to perceive and control his actions, leading to a temporary suspension of the case for treatment.

By july, new forensic conclusions confirmed that despite continued amnesia from brain trauma, Trung had regained sufficient capacity for perception and behavioral control. Consequently, the Vinh Long Provincial Police resumed the investigation and later recommended prosecution.

Regarding the initial handling of the accident, the Investigation Agency of the Supreme People's Procuracy has prosecuted six former police and prosecution officials from Tra On district for failing to prosecute a criminal.

An Binh