On 28/11, the People's Court of Nghe An province sentenced Tu, 19 years old and residing in Dien Chau commune, for the crime of robbery, under Article 168 of the Penal Code.

At the trial, Tu expressed remorse, hoping for a lighter sentence to atone for his mistakes.

Defendant Tu in court, 28/11. Photo: Duc Hung

The Trial Panel determined that Tu's actions posed a danger to society, necessitating a strict sentence for deterrence and general prevention. The defendant's aggravating circumstances included committing the crime against a person 70 years of age or older. However, mitigating circumstances were also considered, such as his sincere confession, his family's efforts to compensate for damages, and the victim's family's request for a reduced sentence.

According to the indictment, Tu was an engineering student at a university in Nghe An. In June, needing money for online games and personal expenses, Tu pawned his laptop. When his mother questioned him about the laptop, in the early morning of 28/6, Tu asked his grandmother for money to redeem the device, but she said she did not have any. The student then stayed the night with her.

Authorities alleged that while his grandmother was sleeping soundly, Tu secretly removed one gold earring. When she woke up and protested, Tu apologized but still tried to remove the other earring. Tu then jumped off the bed, intending to flee, but his grandmother grabbed his shirt and shouted. The student pushed her forcefully, causing her to fall.

Tu then carried his grandmother back onto the bed, picked up the gold earrings that had fallen to the ground, and snuck out. He returned home to sleep and later sold the pair of earrings for nearly 9 million VND.

The same morning, relatives discovered the elderly woman deceased, with a bloodstain on her head, and reported it to the police. In the late afternoon, Tu surrendered.

Duc Hung