McMullen Brian Anthony, 62, an Australian national, was recently sentenced by the Hanoi People's Court to 13 years in prison for murder.
The indictment stated that in 2023, Anthony met Ms. Duong, 51, a Hanoi resident, through social media. He then moved to Vietnam. They married in July of the same year and lived together with Ms. Duong's two children from a previous marriage.
On the evening of 19/4/2025, he read messages between his wife and other men.
Suspecting his wife of infidelity, a conflict and argument ensued. Ms. Duong demanded her husband leave the house. During the altercation, Ms. Duong scratched her husband with her fingernails.
Enraged, Anthony grabbed a cylindrical metal bar and swung it horizontally from right to left, striking Ms. Duong and causing her to fall to her knees on the floor.
The prosecutor determined that despite his wife pleading for him to stop, he continued to strike her two more times. Seeing his wife lying motionless, he dropped the metal bar. When Ms. Duong's daughter ran downstairs, the defendant repeatedly shouted in English, "You're all crazy," then took his handbag and personal wallet from the bedside and left.
According to the forensic report, the victim sustained severe head injuries, resulting in 59% health impairment and requiring inpatient treatment for over three months.
The husband was arrested the following day.
*Victim's name has been changed
Hai Thu
