Couple used guns to shoot people at karaoke bar in Vinh city

On August 29 and 30, the People's Court of Nghe An province held trial on the shooting case at karaoke bar 108 Phan Dinh Phung (Vinh City) that occurred in September 2017.

In this case, Vu Hoai My (aka My Co) was prosecuted for two crimes: "murder" and "illegal possession of military weapons". Le Thanh Hai (aka Hai Bac) was prosecuted for "disturbing public order".

The incident occurred at around 11pm on September 29, 2017, a group of young people residing in Duc Tho district, Ha Tinh province, about 10 people, were singing karaoke in room 210 (number 108, Phan Dinh Phung street, Cua Nam ward, Vinh city) when Vu Hoai My and Le Thanh Hai opened the door and entered the room.

Because they knew each other, Dao Ngoc Tuan was singing and went out to ask, when My and Hai threatened to shoot him with a gun. Tuan argued back, My used a military gun (Galesi Mod 9) to shoot him in the thigh. Hearing the gunshots, the group of young men singing in the room rushed out to beat My and Hai. My used a gun to shoot at the group, causing Nguyen Xuan Thong to be shot in the stomach and Tran Cao Nguyen to be shot in the left arm. Hai used an electric baton to hit the group of young men who were rushing to beat him. During the fight, Hai and My were chased and beaten by the group of young men, their guns and weapons were taken away.

Defendants Vu Hoai My (left) and Le Thanh Hai (right) in court. Photo: Phuong Thao

According to the conclusion of the Provincial People's Procuracy, Vu Hoai My's act of using military guns to shoot at Dao Ngoc Tuan, Tran Cao Nguyen, and Nguyen Xuan Thong was dangerous to the lives of others.

As for Le Thanh Hai, he was the one who went with Vu Hoai My to the karaoke bar with the purpose of collecting debt. Hai did not know that Vu Hoai My was carrying a gun. Before and during the fight, there was no discussion between Hai and My. Therefore, Hai was not an accomplice with Vu Hoai My in the act of "murder".

However, Le Thanh Hai's behavior of using an electric baton to attack others at the karaoke bar has hindered the business activities of the bar, causing panic among employees and customers, and negatively affecting the security and order situation in the area. Therefore, Le Thanh Hai's behavior has violated the crime of "disturbing public order".

Considering the case as a whole, the panel sentenced defendant Vu Hoai My to 7 years in prison for "murder" and 1 year in prison for "illegally possessing military weapons", with a total sentence of 8 years in prison. Defendant Le Thanh Hai was sentenced to 15 months in prison for "disturbing public order".

Vu Hoai My (born 1984), residing in Vinh Tan ward, Vinh city, was sentenced by Vinh city People's Court to 24 months in prison but given a suspended sentence of 45 months and 26 days for the crime of "intentionally causing injury" in 2012.

Le Thanh Hai (born 1983), residing in Truong Thi ward, Vinh city, has 3 previous convictions. In 2003, he was sentenced by the Vinh City People's Court to 5 years and 6 months in prison for "robbery", "extortion", and "theft". In 2011, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison for "illegal drug trafficking". In 2015, he was sentenced to 30 months in prison for "theft".