The Dong Nai City People's Court has issued a decision to try Nguyen Duc Anh, 21, on charges of murder and illegal use of military weapons on the morning of 6/10. Judge Vo Thi Thanh Phuong will preside over the trial.
In addition to the defendant and representatives of the victims' families, the court has summoned Anh's 17-year-old ex-girlfriend as a party with related rights and obligations. Dinh Van Rung, the girl's father, along with individuals who drank alcohol with Anh before the crime, have also been summoned as witnesses.
Anh will be represented by a defense lawyer. Nguyen Viet Quang, the sole survivor of the incident, has also been summoned to court. Two lawyers are participating to protect the legal rights and interests of the four victims.
Anh faces charges that carry the death penalty, the highest possible punishment.
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Nguyen Duc Anh at the time of his arrest. Photo: Thai Ha |
According to the indictment, Anh had been in a romantic relationship with the 17-year-old girl from Binh Minh commune since February. In July, the girl ended the relationship, leading Anh to develop a plan for revenge.
On the afternoon of 2/9, Anh drank alcohol with seven people at a friend's house in Ho Nai ward. During the gathering, he cried and spoke about being broken up with by his girlfriend, expressing an intent to kill her, but others dissuaded him.
Around 10:30 PM, Anh asked someone in the group to drive him to Bui Chu hamlet, Binh Minh commune, claiming he needed to collect a debt of 5 million VND. Upon seeing Rung, his ex-girlfriend's father, returning home from work, Anh intended to attack him but was stopped by his friend, who drove him away.
Around 12:00 AM on 3/9, Anh drove his motorcycle back to the girl's house, carrying two knives. He climbed onto a neighbor's roof, attempting to break in, but Rung discovered him and chased him away.
Anh then believed the adjacent house might have a connecting path to his ex-girlfriend's home, so he climbed onto the roof of Nguyen Viet Quang's house. When he descended to the ground floor and was discovered by the homeowner, he attacked Quang with a knife.
Hearing the commotion, Ho Thi Mai, 36, Quang's wife, ran out to open the gate and call for help. When she returned to the bedroom area, Anh attacked her.
Quang ran out to the street, calling for help, but was attacked again and sustained 31 wounds, though his life was saved. Anh then went back inside the house and murdered Quang's two children, who were sleeping in their room.
As he opened the gate to leave the scene, Anh was arrested by the police.
Phuoc Tuan
