Murder stemming from a game of chance.
(Baonghean.vn) -While gambling for money, Ho Van Thanh and his close friend got into an argument. During the altercation, Thanh grabbed a knife and stabbed his friend to death before turning himself in to the police.
On May 22, the People's Court of Nghe An province sentenced Ho Van Thanh (37 years old), residing in Hamlet 6, Quynh Xuan commune, Quynh Luu district, to 8 years in prison for murder. Thanh's victim was Ho Ba Tam, who lived in the same hamlet.
The trial revealed that Thanh and Tam had been close friends since childhood. They were there for each other through almost all the joys and sorrows of life. On the night of December 25, 2012, Thanh, Tam, and a group of friends went out drinking to celebrate Christmas. After the drinking party, the group decided to play cards for money.
During a game of chance, Thanh and Tam got into a conflict and argued. Thanh grabbed a pipe and hit his close friend. Tam immediately snatched the pipe and retaliated.
A short while later, Tam ran downstairs, grabbed a sharp knife from the refrigerator, held it to Thanh's cheek, and threatened him. After being restrained by others, Tam took the knife and left. Thanh, feeling blood on his cheek, became enraged and chased after Tam, snatching the knife and stabbing his close friend in the chest.
Seeing Tam collapse in a pool of blood, Thanh and his friends immediately rushed him to the hospital, but it was too late. According to the forensic examination results from the Criminal Technical Department of the Nghe An Provincial Police, Tam died from blood loss due to a punctured liver.
Ho Van Thanh before the court
Upon learning of his close friend's death, Thanh went to the police station to surrender. While awaiting trial, Thanh and his family compensated the victim's family with 62 million VND.
At the trial on May 22nd, Ho Van Thanh bowed his head and sincerely pleaded guilty, asking for a reduced sentence so that he could return to being an honest person and repay his debt to his wife, children, and deceased close friend.
Nguyen Khoa
