Blind Love

Tung was the only one who seemed calm. "Mom, don't do that. I was foolish because I loved you too much. I will take all the blame," the 28-year-old defendant told his parents.

On the afternoon of October 7, after a 4-hour trial, the Hanoi People's Court determined that Tung's actions were those of a thug, determined to the end, with motive and premeditated plan to kill his lover, so he sentenced him to death for the crime of "Killing", according to Point n, Clause 1, Article 123, Penal Code.

When the van carrying Tung to the detention center disappeared behind the court gate, Ms. Hong, Tung's mother, was still sitting in the middle of the yard, wiping away tears and watching. Mr. Lan, the victim's father, also walked slowly home, gently patting her shoulder as he passed by, but not looking at Ms. Hong.

Both of them wished that if their son and daughter had not met and gotten into an illicit relationship, then this suffering would not have happened.

The indictment stated that in early January, Tung thought Lan no longer loved him, so they often argued. The couple argued constantly. Lan wanted to end the relationship, but Tung threatened to "kill the whole family."

At around 9am on January 8, the two met to talk at Dua Bridge, Thuong Tin Town, but continued to argue over the old conflict. Tung grabbed the lock of Lan's motorbike and threw it under the bridge, then went back to the motel, took a kitchen knife and returned to the same place.

Seeing that Ms. Lan had asked for help to unlock the car and drive home, Tung chased after her, forced her to fall to the ground and stabbed her 22 times. The victim died on the spot. Tung fled, but was arrested the next day, about 25 km from the scene.

At the trial, Tung quickly confessed to his actions, saying "because I was blinded by love". Before that, the defendant promised to marry and live with Lan, but the two had not yet divorced. "Lan suddenly wanted to end things, so the defendant was very angry and could not control himself. The defendant was wrong, I take responsibility for everything", Tung said and affirmed that he only brought the knife to threaten.

This testimony made the members of the jury indignant. The presiding judge analyzed that the extramarital relationship alone was wrong, and the defendant also forced and threatened Ms. Lan when she wanted to return to her family. This was "unacceptable".

"Don't use love as an excuse. The defendant's actions were not only wrong, but also too brutal. The defendant destroyed two families and left four children helpless. Do you think you are an irresponsible man?", the judge asked. Tung did not answer, but below the courtroom, three people burst into tears: Lan's father, Lan's husband, and Tung's mother.

Mr. Lan said that at 10 o'clock on the day of the murder, he was busy cooking rice in the kitchen and preparing to pick up his grandchild when the phone rang. Lan's voice was panicked and said: "Tung threw the car key into the river, I have a spare key, please bring it to Cau Dua for me". He said he didn't have one, but reassured his daughter: "Wait, I'll be right out. Is everything okay?". His last sentence was mixed with Lan's "yes" and the sound of the phone being hung up hastily.

But it wasn't until that day that Mr. Lan and his son-in-law learned about Lan and Tung. Several months before the murder, Lan suddenly called her husband repeatedly and told him: "You run away, Tung wants to kill you." As both drivers living in the same commune, Mr. Ngoc knew Tung, but he didn't understand why Tung wanted to take revenge on him. When asked, Lan refused to say anything.

The couple both drove taxis, one on the day shift, the other on the night shift, so they didn't have much time to talk. Being busy with work, Ngoc said he didn't pay much attention to what his wife said. But just a few days later, Tung suddenly came to his mother's workplace, holding a knife and threatening her: "If you don't let Lan go with me, I will kill your whole family, your children and grandchildren."

Ngoc knew about it and Lan confessed everything. She apologized and said she wanted to end things with Tung to return to her family. Ngoc said that at that time he was very angry with his wife, but he loved her more. "It was partly my fault for letting her lack affection," he said and said he advised her not to see Tung again, but his wife insisted on "settle things once and for all."

On January 8, Ngoc was on a long trip away from home. Knowing that his wife would go see her ex-lover and knowing that Tung was ready to act rashly, he told her to wait until they got home before going to see him. Lan reassured him: "We'll only talk for a few minutes in a crowded place. Tung won't dare do anything to you." That was also the last thing Ngoc heard from his wife.

At noon, there were continuous phone calls to his wife asking about the situation but there was no answer. Ngoc received a call from his brother-in-law, saying "come home immediately, Lan was stabbed to death by Tung".

Crying as he recounted his story in court on October 7, Mr. Ngoc asked the jury to give his rival the harshest sentence possible. "My wife was wrong but she did not deserve to die so painfully."

Returning home after her husband passed away and learning about her son's affair with a married woman, Ms. Hong blamed herself for neglecting her children. "This is my fault. My son is gentle, but this happened because I did not raise him well."

*Character names have been changed