Couple who tortured 8-year-old girl to death appear in court

Trang, 27 years old, was tried by the Family and Juvenile Court (HCMC People's Court) for the crimesKilling,Torture othersAccording to Articles 123 and 140 of the Penal Code; the highest combined penalty is death.

Thai, 37 years old, father of Van An, was accused of the crime.Torture othersandConcealing a criminalAccording to Article 389; the total maximum penalty is 8 years in prison.

To serve the trial, the court summoned 4 witnesses and 2 experts. There were 4 lawyers protecting the legal rights and interests of Van An; Trang had one lawyer; Thai had 2 lawyers.

Previously, the court planned to hold a closed trial to protect the child victim, according to regulations. However, due to the particularly serious nature of the case and the public's concern, the court decided to hold a public trial to deter and prevent the general society.

Nguyen Vo Quynh Trang and Nguyen Kim Trung Thai. Photo:Facebook Trang Nguyen

Before the trial, lawyer Tran Thi Ngoc Nu (defending the victim's family) requested the court to return the case file for further investigation, requesting to change the charges against Thai Tu.Torture othersluxuriousKilling.

According to Ms. Nu, the records show that from 10:14 p.m. on December 10, 2021 to 2 a.m. the next morning, Trang and Thai used a whip and a metal bar to hit An on the head while he was naked. Thai is An's biological father, but together with Trang, they cursed and beat their child with dangerous weapons. The other times Trang beat the child, this father saw it directly or watched it through a camera.

"Thai's actions were part of a crime, and were the motive and motivation that pushed Trang to beat An even more savagely," the lawyer stated. "Although Thai blamed Trang and claimed to have stopped her, this statement contradicts the course of the case. Thai must take primary responsibility for his child's death."

People light candles to pray for baby Van An at Sai Gon Pearl apartment building, late 2021. Photo: Dinh Van

In 2020, Thai divorced, raised Van An, and lived as husband and wife with Trang at the Sai Gon Pearl apartment building (Binh Thanh district). Around October 2021, An studied online at home, so Thai left her with Trang to take care of and tutor her.

According to the indictment, because Thai's parents did not agree to let their son marry Trang, and Thai did not want to have a child with his lover, Trang was jealous and angry. She once sought out Van An's mother and asked her not to see her child.

From December 7 to 22, 2021, Trang repeatedly used a rattan cane and a wooden stick to beat An. There were times when the defendant did not let her wear clothes, forced her to kneel, raise her arms high, and then beat her; locked her in a dog cage; or forced her to kneel to study for many hours before she could stand up. Thai did not stop her, but instead, together with his lover, scolded and beat her with a stick.

Late at night on December 10, 2021 until after 2:00 a.m. the next morning, the lovers took turns torturing and hitting the girl's vital areas. On December 22, 2021, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Trang continuously beat An with a wooden stick, kicked her... causing the victim to lose consciousness and then die. When he learned that his lover had beaten Van An to death, Thai deleted all camera data in the apartment to conceal it, hindering the investigation.

Trang and Thai admitted to all the abuse of An but claimed that "they beat An to make her behave better and study better". However, the investigation results showed that An was a good student, obedient and polite to teachers.

Criminal prosecution equipmentKillingwith many aggravating circumstances: murder of a person under 16 years old, with hooliganism and despicable motives.