BMW driver sentenced to life in prison for beating pedestrian to death

Truc claimed that he chased and beat the victim in the center of Ho Chi Minh City out of anger and not with the intention of killing, but was not accepted.

On the afternoon of December 20, the People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City sentenced Le Long Truc (31 years old) to life in prison for murder, forcing the defendant and the related company (owner of the BMW) to compensate more than 316 million VND to the victim's family.

According to the panel of judges, because of a small conflict, Truc repeatedly beat the victim, causing his death. This action should have been punishable by death, but the defendant compensated the victim for some of the damage, so the court reduced the sentence.

Defendant Truc in court. Photo: Hai Duyen.

Investigation results determined that at noon on January 13, 2016, Truc drove the company's BMW to deliver gifts, stopped at the intersection of Le Loi - Pasteur (District 1) and stopped at a red light. Because motorbikes were allowed to turn right onto Pasteur Street, Mr. Minh came from behind, honked the horn, knocked on the window to signal to pass.

Truc got out of the car, loudly started a fight, and rushed to hit Minh but was stopped by everyone.

Driving a short distance into Pasteur Street, Mr. Minh saw a BMW going in the same direction, so he jumped up, kicked the side of the car, and accelerated to run away. Truc immediately sped up to chase after it.

Arriving at the Rex Hotel (Ben Nghe Ward, District 1), Truc drove his car into Mr. Minh's car, causing him to fall over. The BMW driver continued to drive the car onto the sidewalk, hitting the hotel wall, then got off his bike and repeatedly hit Mr. Minh in the stomach.

Seeing the victim faint, people nearby took him to the emergency room and held Truc to hand him over to the police. Truc's actions were recorded entirely by the hotel's camera.

After 2 months of treatment for multiple injuries, lung contusion, broken ribs... Mr. Minh died.

Truc was then prosecuted for murder. The Ho Chi Minh City People's Court returned the investigation file several times to clarify whether Truc's crime was murder or intentional infliction of injury. However, the People's Procuracy still maintained its prosecution opinion.

In court today, Truc admitted to the actions as charged but claimed that he did not intend to kill, but only committed the crime of intentionally causing injury. Explaining the reason why the car he was driving blocked the victim and climbed up onto the curb, he said it was because the accelerator pedal got stuck in the floor mat.

However, the panel of judges determined that the defendant was not sincere and that he intentionally turned the wheel at full speed to block Mr. Minh's path.

The victim’s family requested the defendant to pay a total of 5 billion VND in compensation, including funeral expenses, mental damage, and child support. However, the panel of judges only accepted part of their request.

According to VNE