On 18/8, the Hanoi People's Court sentenced Do Dang Duong, 22, from Yen Lang commune, Hanoi, to death for murder and illegal use of military weapons. Duong killed his cousin, Anh Tuan, 30, on the evening of 20/2, after a joke about red marks on Duong's hand escalated into a violent attack while Anh Tuan was holding his 2-year-old daughter.
The incident began on the evening of 20/2 when Duong's paternal uncles visited his father. One uncle, Chung, noticed several red marks on Duong's hand, raising suspicion of drug use. Chung repeatedly questioned Duong, who remained silent and showed unusual behavior, shaking his head. Anh Tuan, Chung's son and Duong's cousin, arrived holding his 2-year-old daughter. He then told Duong, "It is best to go to the pharmacy and buy a test kit; you will know right away."
Angered by Anh Tuan's remark, Duong immediately pulled a knife and lunged at him, chasing and stabbing him multiple times. On a main road, Duong kicked Anh Tuan to the ground. Anh Tuan, attempting to shield his child, hugged the girl and used his two legs to push Duong away in self-defense. Despite his efforts, Duong stabbed him several more times, with one strike hitting the child. Unable to defend himself further, Anh Tuan released his daughter and succumbed to Duong's repeated stabs until he became motionless.
Witnessing the attack, relatives and other locals intervened, restraining Duong and disarming him before handing him over to the commune police. Anh Tuan died on the way to the emergency room. The child sustained minor injuries, but the family declined an official injury assessment.
Throughout the investigation and trial, Duong denied committing the acts. Toxicology results confirmed the absence of alcohol or any illicit drugs in his blood. The victim's wife did not seek compensation and requested a reduced sentence for Duong, expressing hope that he would not be "permanently removed from life". However, the court determined that Duong was beyond rehabilitation, leading to the imposition of the maximum sentence.
Hai Thu
