Murder to avoid debt facing death penalty

Ms. Huong's brutal slashing of the creditor couple was determined to be "gangster-like" and "for despicable purposes." With these two aggravating circumstances, she was prosecuted to the death penalty.

The People's Court of Ba Ria Vung Tau province said that the agency had planned to bring Ms. Le Thi Huong (39 years old, residing in Lien Son hamlet, Xa Bang commune) to a mobile trial, but to ensure the defendant's security, the trial will take place at the court headquarters on March 6.

Ms. Huong at the police station. Photo: Xuan Mai

According to the indictment of the People's Procuracy of Ba Ria Vung Tau province, Ms. Huong - the wife of Mr. Vo Thanh My (51 years old, former secretary of Kim Long commune, Chau Duc district - currently transferred to another job) borrowed 80 million VND from the couple Phan Ngoc Nga and Mr. Nguyen Chi Hung (residing in Hiep Cuong village, Cu Bi commune, Chau Duc district). In addition, Ms. Huong also borrowed 20 million VND from Ms. Nga and owed about 60 million VND for playing the hui but had no documents.

With the intention of killing the creditor to avoid paying, on January 15, 2013, Huong called Mrs. Nga many times to ask her to come to her house to get the money. Although she was still in the hospital, Mrs. Nga urged her husband to take her to the commune secretary's house immediately. However, when they arrived, Mrs. Huong said that the creditor was waiting for her husband to come home to calculate and settle the matter, and told Mrs. Nga to lie down on the hammock to rest. Mrs. Huong also expressed concern for Mrs. Nga's health, suggesting that Mr. Hung go to the garden to pick up some chicken eggs and chop bananas for his wife to restore her health.

Then, Huong went to the kitchen to get a 63 cm long machete with a bamboo handle, and urged Mr. Hung to take the basket and go first. She led him to the cashew tree next to the house, and while he was busy picking up eggs, Huong suddenly slashed him several times on the head from behind. Reaching out to support him, Mr. Hung panicked and called out to his wife: "Honey, come save me!"

Hearing her husband's voice, Mrs. Nga ran out and was also slashed three times on the head by Huong. Seeing Mr. Hung running away, the commune secretary's wife turned around and slashed him many more times until the victim collapsed. Mrs. Nga climbed out of the gate and shouted for help and was discovered by passersby who took her and her husband to the emergency room.

Mr. Hung and his wife are being treated in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Xuan Mai

According to the forensic conclusion of the Institute of Criminal Science - Ministry of Public Security, Mr. Hung was slashed a total of 17 times in the head and both arms with a disability rate of nearly 80%, Ms. Nga was slashed three times in the head with a disability rate of over 26%.

With the above crime, defendant Huong was prosecuted for Murder with the aggravating circumstances of "hooliganism" and "despicable motive" with a penalty of up to death.

In addition to determining that Ms. Huong intentionally killed Mr. Hung and his wife to avoid paying their debt, Ba Ria - Vung Tau Provincial Police are investigating her in connection with the disappearance of the female treasurer of Kim Long commune, Ms. Duong Thi Thuy Binh Ha (54 years old, a subordinate of Ms. Huong's husband).

According to a provincial police leader, initially, Ms. Huong confessed to burning Ms. Ha’s body for 3 days in her garden, and the investigation agency also recovered a quantity of charred human bones. However, the authorities have not yet determined the DNA to match Ms. Ha’s relatives. The case has been separated for further investigation and consolidation of other evidence to clarify Ms. Huong’s statement.

According to vnexrpess