Hanoi City Police are investigating criminal activity in connection with the case involving Nguyen Minh Hiep, 22, from Ninh Binh province.

Hiep and Ban Thi Tam, 20, from Tuyen Quang, cohabited. Tam had a daughter from a previous relationship, a four-year-old girl, who had been living with Hiep since March in a rented room measuring about 20 square meters in Phu Dien ward, Hanoi.

On 3/5, Hiep is suspected of repeatedly beating the girl in the rented room. Seeing her "unofficial husband" abuse her child, Tam did not intervene until the girl showed signs of stopped breathing on the afternoon of the same day.

Noticing the girl lying motionless, the two attempted first aid but failed, and then took her to the emergency room.

The child was admitted to E Hospital in a state of circulatory arrest and deep coma, with numerous bruises on her body. Doctors determined the patient faced a very high risk of death, with over 99% body damage. By the afternoon of 6/5, the girl died.