'Stepmother' Nguyen Vo Quynh Trang sentenced to death

After a day of trial in the case of a "stepmother - biological father" torturing an 8-year-old girl to death, the Family and Juvenile Court (Ho Chi Minh City People's Court) sentenced defendant Nguyen Vo Quynh Trang to death, Nguyen Trung Kim Thai to 3 years in prison for "Torturing others", 5 years in prison for "Concealing a criminal", and Thai to 8 years in prison.

Previously, defending herself, defendant Trang cried and admitted to torturing her lover's stepdaughter to death, saying that her actions deserved the death penalty and accepted this sentence. The defendant was fully aware of her criminal behavior and expressed remorse: "During the days in detention, the defendant was very remorseful. I hope the court will consider giving the defendant a way to turn back, so that I have the opportunity to take care of my mother and younger sibling," defendant Trang said regretfully.

Defendant Nguyen Vo Quynh Trang while waiting for the panel of judges to deliberate.

The lawyer defending Trang’s rights stated that he had clearly seen the defendant’s remorse. During her detention, Trang fasted and repented of her actions. The defendant did not justify or explain the reason for torturing the child. It was because she did not think thoroughly and did not foresee the consequences. Therefore, the lawyer said that the sentence proposed by the People’s Procuracy for Trang was too harsh.

Regarding Nguyen Kim Trung Thai, the defendant said that the incident was a loss and a big lesson for himself and his family, and asked the panel of judges to consider giving him a light sentence so that he could return home soon to take care of his remaining child.

Defendant Nguyen Kim Trung Thai also apologized to Ms. H. (VA's mother), her family and everyone for the mistakes he had made. "I ask for public forgiveness, this is a huge loss. I hope the jury will give me the lightest sentence possible so that I can return soon, remedy the consequences, and make up for my remaining child," said defendant Thai.

Defendant Nguyen Trung Kim Thai.

Meanwhile, the victim’s family’s lawyer asked the court to severely punish Thai. According to the lawyer, Tran Thi Ngoc Nu, who is defending the rights of the 8-year-old girl, the case is typical of domestic and child violence. Defendant Thai admitted to witnessing Trang stripping her daughter naked many times to beat her, pulling her hair, and breaking her teeth... Thai did not intervene and even participated in beating the girl.

Regarding Thai's actions, the lawyer requested the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court to return the case file for further investigation, requesting to change the charge against Nguyen Kim Trung Thai from "Torturing others" to "Murder".

On the side of the representative of the People's Procuracy, in response to the self-defense of Nguyen Trung Kim Thai as well as the lawyers defending the rights of the defendants, the representative of the People's Procuracy said that this was an extremely painful case, and that nothing could compensate the victim. "The victim is dead, how can we fix it!?", the representative of the People's Procuracy said. The representative of the People's Procuracy assessed the behavior of the defendant Trang as cruel... and at the same time maintained the proposed sentence.

People came to watch the trial.

Before the sentencing, the two defendants were given the last word. Defendant Trang cried and said that she was fully aware of her actions and recognized her guilt... She hoped the panel of judges would give her a way out so that she could repent for her crimes.

In his self-defense, Nguyen Trung Kim Thai also said that he "clearly understood his mistakes, understood his weakness, and that his untimely intervention led to serious consequences. The defendant's losses have tormented him all this time" and asked the panel of judges to reduce his sentence so that he could return home to make up for it and take care of his son.