On 5/8, the Nghe An Provincial People's Court sentenced 21-year-old Nguyen Van Thanh, from Yen Xuan commune, to death for murder, under Article 123 of the penal code.
Thanh's wife, 21-year-old Nguyen Thi Kim Anh, received a 2-year suspended sentence for concealing the crime. Thanh's 15-year-old brother, Nguyen Van Chien, was also involved in concealing the crime, but was not held criminally responsible due to his age and was handed over to local authorities.
In court, Thanh claimed he murdered Dung because he felt insulted and believed Dung had made advances towards his wife.
Kim Anh explained her silence, saying she feared her young child would lose his father if she reported the crime.
The court deemed Thanh's actions particularly heinous and dangerous to society, warranting a severe sentence as a deterrent.
The court ordered Thanh to compensate Dung’s family nearly 300 million VND for funeral expenses and emotional distress. He must also provide 2 million VND monthly to Dung’s 11-year-old child until they reach 18.
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Defendants Thanh and Kim Anh (from right), at the court on 5/8. Photo: Hung Le |
Defendants Thanh and Kim Anh (from right), at the court on 5/8. Photo: Hung Le
According to the indictment, on the afternoon of 17/1, Thanh and Kim Anh visited 55-year-old Tran Van Dung, an acquaintance of Thanh’s father, at his home in Anh Son commune to borrow money, offering a motorbike as collateral. Dung offered only 4 million VND, so the couple declined the loan.
Dung invited them to stay for a meal. While Dung prepared the food, Thanh went behind the pigsty, and Kim Anh sat on a wooden platform in the yard. Minutes later, Thanh heard his wife cry out. He ran to her but she didn’t speak.
On their way home, Kim Anh told Thanh that Dung had pushed her down and she suspected he had improper intentions. Enraged, Thanh returned with his wife that afternoon to "talk" to Dung. Kim Anh left before Thanh and Dung began drinking together.
During their conversation, Thanh accused Dung of offending his wife.
Authorities allege Thanh then went to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and stabbed Dung 4 times.
Thanh called his younger brother, Nguyen Van Chien, to help him dispose of the body in the pond behind the house, weighing it down with a metal sheet and 4 bricks. Thanh then called his wife, confessing to the murder and warning her to stay silent.
Thanh destroyed Dung’s blood-stained documents and phone to cover his tracks.
Dung’s family reported him missing. On 20/2, Thanh confessed to the authorities. Kim Anh also came forward at the same time.
Duc Hung
