Just because of a pond, neighbors become enemies.
Mr. Tuong and Mr. M. were not only neighbors but also related. However, simply because of a dispute over a pond embankment, Tuong used a hoe to attack his severely disabled neighbor. That moment of anger resulted in a prison sentence and physical and psychological wounds for both sides.
Neighbors "talk" to each other using hoes and shovels.
On the day defendant Phan Trong Tuong (69 years old), residing in Yen Thanh commune, Nghe An province, was escorted to court for trial on charges of murder, a large number of people came to attend. They were relatives and family members of both the defendant and the victim.
Dressed in a blue prisoner's uniform, Tuong laboriously walked to the courtroom, leaning on his cane. Due to his poor health from a previous stroke, the defendant was allowed to sit during the trial. Upon seeing the victim and his relatives seated below, the defendant, with his graying hair and haggard appearance, broke down in tears. Tuong expressed remorse for his mistakes, which led him to stand trial at an advanced age, with poor health and illness.
Phan Trọng Tường and Mr. Phan Trọng M. (54 years old, the victim in the case) are not only relatives but also...neighborLife in the countryside values neighborly affection, so the two families often visited each other's homes. But then, due to baseless suspicion, Tuong used a hoe to strike his neighbor.
Specifically, on the afternoon of May 7, 2024, Tuong took a hoe and went to the ditch behind his house to build an earthen embankment to prevent water from flowing into his pond and rice fields. After finishing the embankment, Tuong saw Mr. M. standing at the head of the ditch. Because Tuong had previously seen many fish in his pond die, he suspected that Mr. M. had removed the earthen embankment, causing dirty water from his duck pond to flow into his fish pond.
Based on that suspicion, Tuong took a hoe and went to where Mr. M. was standing. Upon arriving, Tuong cursed and raised the hoe to hit Mr. M. on the head. Instinctively, Mr. M. raised his hands to defend himself, but Tuong still struck him several times, causing him to fall into the ditch.
The victim, who sustained head and arm injuries, was taken to several hospitals for emergency treatment and underwent lengthy recovery periods. Investigators determined that the victim suffered 56% bodily injury.
Regarding Phan Trong Tuong, after assaulting the victim, he quietly went home. He was later arrested by the police. Suspecting Tuong of having a mental illness, authorities took him for examination. The conclusion was that before, during, and after committing the crime, Tuong suffered from mild dementia; he was capable of understanding but had limited ability to control his actions.
A moment of anger, a lifetime of regret.
With the aforementioned criminal acts, Phan Trong Tuong was brought to trial for murder. At the trial, the defendant initially gave evasive answers, denying using a hoe to strike the victim. He claimed that his eyesight was blurry after a stroke, causing him to confuse Mr. M. with the pond bank. However, he later admitted to intentionally using the hoe to strike the victim's head and hands. He stated that he acted because Mr. M. had insulted him.
Attending the trial, the victim stated that his health had been severely affected after the assault. The victim, who is already severely disabled and has lost an arm, now suffers further health damage and is demanding that the defendant compensate him nearly 200 million VND for hospital expenses, medication, and emotional distress.
Meeting the victim again in court, the defendant broke down in tears and apologized. “I know I was wrong, and I beg the victim’s family to forgive me. I will tell my children to sell some of the garden land to get money to compensate the victim for medical treatment,” Tường said, trembling and crying, while also hoping that the neighborly and familial relationship between the two sides would not be affected after this incident. Before the trial, the defendant had already arranged for his family to compensate the victim with 80 million VND.
Throughout the trial, the defendant expressed remorse for his wrongdoing and asked the court to consider mitigating circumstances. The defendant stated that he had previously worked as a police officer and received commendations during his service. He resigned from that position due to poor health. He also claimed to have never committed any crime before. He further stated that he and the victim had a peaceful relationship until the incident occurred.
In front of a large crowd in the courtroom, the judges reminded everyone about proper conduct in daily life. They cautioned against raising voices or even resorting to violence simply because of unfounded suspicions. Actions taken in anger often escalate, causing harm to many. This case serves as a prime example of impulsive and irrational behavior.
After the trial, the panel of judges concluded that Tường had used a hoe to strike the victim in a vulnerable area based solely on unfounded assumptions. The defendant was aware that striking the head, a vital part of the body, with a hoe could be life-threatening, yet he still carried it out. The victim's injury was unintentional, and the crime was not completed, therefore a severe punishment is necessary. However, in this case, several mitigating circumstances should be considered, such as honest confession and the family's efforts to partially compensate the victim for the damages. Considering all aspects of the case, the panel of judges sentenced Phan Trọng Tường to 10 years in prison for murder.
Receiving a harsher sentence than the prosecutor's recommendation, the defendant's face contorted. He struggled to stand, leaning on his cane as he left. Before turning away, he turned back to instruct his children about compensating the victims. After saying this, he silently followed the prison officer, leaving behind the cries of his relatives and family.
