On 18/5, Ha, 35 years old, residing in Long Huong ward, was sentenced to death by TP HCM People's Court Branch 1 (formerly Ba Ria - Vung Tau area) for two combined crimes: murder and illegal drug use.

The court determined that Ha had no conflict with his biological mother and sister. The defendant had undergone mandatory rehabilitation but relapsed after returning home, leading to delusions, loss of behavioral control, and committing a particularly serious crime. Therefore, the court deemed it necessary to apply the highest penalty to the defendant.

Vu Van Ha in court. Photo: Truong Ha

According to the indictment, Ha was under post-rehabilitation management in Long Huong ward. He lived with his parents, sister, and her two children. Due to unstable employment and frequent scolding from his mother and sister, Ha developed resentment and bitterness.

Around 3h on 22/9/2025, Ha took a knife from the kitchen, went to the living room where his mother and two nieces/nephews were sleeping, threatened them, and forced them to go stand in the yard. After that, Ha continued to force his sister to stand with the others.

When his sister, tired, went back inside the house, Ha immediately restrained her, using the knife to attack her neck, causing 4% injury. Then, he turned to attack his mother, killing the victim on the spot. Ha also killed one dog in the house. Ha's sister and her two children escaped.

Throughout the trial this afternoon, Vu Van Ha kept his head down, avoiding eye contact with his father and sister. The defendant testified that there had been no conflict or argument between him and his family members before the night of the crime.

Ha stated he had been addicted to drugs for many years. After 12 months of mandatory rehabilitation, on the very day he was released and returned home, the defendant met an acquaintance named Tam and relapsed into crystal meth use. According to his testimony, Tam took Ha to an abandoned house to use drugs together. From then on, every day Ha went into the forest to gather bamboo shoots and set traps for crabs to sell, using the money to fuel his addiction.

About one month before the crime, Ha frequently suffered from insomnia, heard whispers, and saw drones "flying around his house to monitor him". On the afternoon of 21/9/2025, Ha used drugs alone in the warehouse behind his house, and by midnight, he experienced hallucinations, took a knife, and committed the crime against his relatives.

"When sober, I never intended to harm my family members," Ha testified, adding, "I cannot imagine the actions I committed that night."

In his final statement, Ha apologized to his father and sister, stating that he could not accept or forgive himself for what he had done. The defendant also requested the court to sentence him to the highest penalty, which is death.

Truong Ha