Young man sentenced to 17 years in prison for killing someone after being shined in the face by headlights

On the evening of March 4, 2018, after drinking alcohol, Ngo Van Minh went to a coffee shop in Nghia Loc commune to drink with friends. When Phan Van Tien arrived, because he had not yet turned off his motorbike lights, the headlights shone on Minh's face.

Defendant Ngo Van Minh in court. Photo: Nhu Binh

Minh told his friend to go home and get the iron pipe and go to see Mr. Tien to talk. Mr. Tien said he came from somewhere else and hoped that if he did anything wrong, he would be forgiven. As soon as he finished speaking, Mr. Tien was hit straight in the chest with the iron pipe by Minh. The fatal blow caused the victim to die immediately, and Ngo Van Minh was arrested.

After the incident, Minh’s family compensated the victim’s family 260 million VND. At the first instance trial, the victim Tien’s mother asked the panel of judges to reduce the sentence for defendant Minh. The first instance panel sentenced Ngo Van Minh to 15 years in prison. Believing that the first instance verdict was not commensurate with Minh’s crime, the High People’s Procuracy in Hanoi appealed to increase the prison sentence for the defendant.

The appellate court concluded that for no reason, the defendant Minh used an iron pipe to hit Mr. Tien in a vital area, causing the victim to die, even though Mr. Tien was not at fault and had been very humble. The defendant’s actions demonstrated hooliganism, aggression, and disregard for the law and the lives of others. The sentence passed by the first instance court was not commensurate with the defendant’s crime and was not sufficient to deter and prevent the general public.

Therefore, the High People's Court accepted the appeal of the High People's Procuracy in Hanoi, amended the first instance criminal judgment, and sentenced Ngo Van Minh to 17 years in prison.