The Ha Tinh Provincial People's Court on the morning of 18/3/2026 sentenced Vo Van Tap, 55, residing in Ky Lac commune, to 13 years in prison for attempted murder, under Article 123 of the Penal Code.

In court, Tap cried, expressing remorse and hoping for a reduced sentence to atone for his mistakes.

The trial panel determined that the defendant's actions posed a danger to society and intentionally harmed another person's health, warranting strict punishment for deterrence and general prevention. The defendant must compensate the victim over 235 million VND.

Defendant Vo Van Tap in court, morning of 18/3/2026. Photo: Duc Hung

According to the indictment, Tap, who was unmarried, met and developed a relationship with Nguyen Thi Tam, 52, residing in Ky Khang commune (formerly part of Ky Anh district), in 2/2025.

While Tap frequently visited Tam's house, Luong Dinh Ung, 68, who also knew Tam, threatened to beat Tap if he continued to appear there.

Around 7:30 p.m. on 19/7/2025, Tap arrived at Tam's gate, saw Ung inside, and hid in a bush. Authorities accused Tap of picking up a rock out of anger and throwing it, hitting Ung's head and causing him to fall. Seeing Ung motionless, Tap dragged him from the gate to the inter-village road, then down to a stream about 30 meters from the house, where he dropped him and threw two more rocks at his face.

The trial panel questioning defendant Vo Van Tap. Photo: Duc Hung

Believing the victim was dead, Tap threw the rock in the garden and fled into the forest. Ung later regained consciousness late that same night, crawled into Tam's house for help, and suffered 68% health impairment.

Nearly a week later, Tap surrendered at the Ky Khang Commune Police headquarters.

Duc Hung