Sentenced for beating someone to death while resisting

Suddenly surrounded and chased by a group of six people, Dung pulled out a knife and stabbed randomly, causing one opponent to die.

Defendants at trial. Photo: Xuan Hoa

On November 22, at the headquarters of the People's Court of Quang Binh province, the High People's Court opened an appeal hearing, sentencing Nguyen Tran Dung (23 years old, residing in Ha Trach commune, Bo Trach district) for the crime of Murder in a state of agitation. Five other defendants were also prosecuted for the crime of Disturbing public order.

At the first instance trial opened three months ago, Dung was sentenced to two years in prison, the remaining defendants each received sentences of six months suspended to one year in prison.

The family of the victim, Nguyen Duy Nam, later appealed, saying that Dung’s sentence was too lenient. Meanwhile, the six defendants requested a reduced sentence.

According to the verdict, in early 2017, returning home from a year-end party, Nam and five other young men aged 18-23 unexpectedly encountered Dung's group on a village road. Due to a previous conflict, Nam's group used belts and three-section sticks to attack them.

Dung sprayed pepper spray at the opponent and ran away but was still chased and beaten by six people. Dung said that Nam hit him in the head with a metal stick, so he took a knife and stabbed him twice. After the fight, Nam died from being stabbed in the heart. Dung suffered 13% injuries and a concussion.

The appeals court said Dung's actions stemmed from being attacked by Nam's group unexpectedly. Therefore, the court rejected the appeal of the victim Nam's family and upheld Dung's two-year prison sentence.

The appeals court also upheld the sentences of three other defendants. The remaining two were reduced sentences because they were university students, had no criminal records, and were first-time offenders with less serious consequences.

According to VNE