Korean national who beat restaurant owner to death: "was not lucid during the crime"

Kim Jin, 31, a South Korean national, admitted to using a laughing gas cylinder to fatally assault a restaurant owner but claimed he did not clearly recall the incident and "was not lucid" at the time of the offense.

On 4/9, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court sentenced Kim Jin, 31, a South Korean national, to life imprisonment. Kang Yo Han, 30, also a South Korean national, received a 20-year prison sentence for murder.

At trial, both defendants admitted to the crime, though Kim Jin stated he did not clearly remember the events. The prosecution recalled Jin's statements to investigators, where he said he took a taxi to the restaurant after receiving a message that "something happened with his friends."

According to the indictment, around 0:40 on 28/12/2024, Lee Chang Dae, a friend of Kim Jin, and three compatriots were drinking and singing karaoke at a restaurant on Tran Hung Dao street, District 1 (now Cau Ong Lanh ward). Jin and Kang Yo Han were drinking on Bui Vien walking street at the time. At 2:30, Lee Chang Dae damaged an LED screen in the room. Staff demanded compensation, leading to an argument. Employees informed the restaurant owner, Lee, and the male manager, both South Korean. The two went to the room to speak with the guests, and a scuffle ensued. The owner demanded three guests kneel. The manager called the police during the fight.

A friend called Jin after Lee Chang Dae was beaten. Jin then invited Kang Yo Han to the restaurant. Concurrently, a patrol team, including local police and security, arrived outside the karaoke room. Jin allegedly snatched a rubber baton from a patrol team member. He and Kang Yo Han then entered the room, closed the door, and attacked the restaurant owner and manager. Jin used a metal laughing gas cylinder to strike the owner's head, causing the victim to collapse. By the time police forced the door open, the owner had died. The male manager was hospitalized, surviving but sustaining 87% injuries.

At trial today, Jin testified that he saw his friends kneeling when he arrived. He claimed he grabbed the rubber baton and retaliated after being attacked. Jin stated he only knew his friends "had a problem" from the message but not the cause. He also said he and his friends did not discuss anything upon arrival. "I was not lucid when the incident occurred," Jin stated. Both defendants apologized to the victims and their families during their final statements.

The court determined the defendants' actions had severe consequences. Despite only receiving a vague message about his friend "having a problem," Jin and Kang Yo Han still went to assault the victims. The court deemed the crime violent and committed against two people, necessitating strict punishment. Jin was held more responsible for inviting Kang Yo Han. The court noted the agreement between the defendants and the victims. They were ordered to jointly compensate the deceased's family over 5 billion VND and the male manager over 3 billion VND, deducting over 1,3 billion VND already paid.