20 years in prison for young man who strangled victim with 19 loops of jungle vines

On May 28, the Provincial People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial to try Ly Thanh Dat (born 1997), residing in Chau Hoan commune, Quy Chau, for the crime of "Murder".

According to the indictment, on the evening of May 11, 2016, Dat and Vi Thi T. (born 2003, residing in Chau Phong commune, Quy Chau) went to the house of an acquaintance in Chau Phong commune to eat and drink alcohol.

Ly Thanh Dat at the trial. Photo: Nhu Binh

After finishing dinner, T. asked Dat to take her to a friend's house in Dien Lam commune (Quy Chau) to play. On the way back, Dat had the intention of having sex with T. and was slapped by the girl.

Angry, Dat punched T. in the face many times, then covered his mouth with one hand and hugged the victim with the other, dragging him into the forest. Although T. resisted fiercely, Dat still strangled him and used a rope to wrap around his neck, squeezing him tightly.

Dat had sexual intercourse with T. When he saw the victim lying motionless, the young man then took his motorbike and left.

On the evening of May 18, 2016, people found T.'s body in a state of severe decomposition. On May 19, 2016, Ly Thanh Dat turned himself in to the police and confessed to his crime.

Although Dat confessed to having sexual intercourse with the victim, the authorities only had enough basis to conclude that this young man tightened 19 loops of forest vines around the victim's neck, not enough basis to conclude that he had "raped a child".

At the trial, Ly Thanh Dat confessed honestly, repented and asked for leniency from the law and forgiveness from the victim's family.

Considering the entire case, the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the panel sentenced Ly Thanh Dat to 20 years in prison for “Murder”. Regarding civil matters, the two parties agreed to compensate more than 170 million VND, and Dat’s parents have now compensated the victim 112 million VND.