Tears of a veteran convicted of murder

(Baonghean.vn) - Suffering from kidney failure, poor family background, and entangled in a legal case of murder, veteran Le Van Hong shed tears in court.

According to the indictment, at about 7:00 a.m. on July 9, 2016, Le Van Hong (born in 1965), residing in Nghi Van commune, Nghi Loc, came to the housing construction team in Nghi Phu commune to work. Because Hong arrived nearly an hour later than everyone else, Nguyen Ngoc Hoa had an opinion and told Hong to "go home". Hearing Hoa curse at him, Hong, who had a pry bar in his hand, threw it at Hoa, causing the iron bar to hit the victim's left chest.

Despite being rushed to the emergency room, the victim was pronounced dead due to the pry bar piercing his lung, causing acute blood loss. Upon learning of Mr. Hoa’s death, Le Van Hong turned himself in to the police and confessed to his crime.

Defendant Le Van Hong burst into tears when talking about his crimes and the burden he caused his wife and children.

Defendant Hong has suffered from kidney failure and has been on dialysis for the past four years, twice a week. Even when he was arrested, Le Van Hong was still given the opportunity by the Detention Center Board to maintain his dialysis schedule.

“I have kidney failure and have been on dialysis for 4 years now. I can’t do any heavy work. That day, the contractor was short of workers and called me to help. He knew about my health condition so he told me to pick up some broken bricks and bend some steel bars. I thought the job was within my ability and I could earn some extra money to help my wife raise our children, so I agreed. Hoa cursed at me, and I couldn’t control myself so I threw a pry bar at Hoa. I didn’t mean to kill him,” Le Van Hong explained.

Family of victim Nguyen Ngoc Hoa at the trial.

The interrogation proceeded quickly because the defendant admitted all his crimes. However, the consideration of the defendant's civil liability became more tense when the legal representative of the victim requested that the defendant pay 320 million VND in compensation. Hearing that amount of money, Mr. Hong's wife was in turmoil, not having time to wait for the panel of judges to allow it, she stood up to explain her situation and then burst into tears.

“I have to bear the consequences of the crime. I am so sick, I probably won’t live much longer. I only feel sorry for my wife and children, I don’t know how to live with the village, with Mr. Hoa’s family…”, defendant Hong was silent, raised his lumpy arm to wipe away two tears rolling down from the corner of his eyes.

Considering the aggravating and mitigating circumstances such as surrender, honest confession, being awarded a Medal during his international duty in Cambodia..., the panel sentenced Le Van Hong to 13 years in prison. Regarding civil compensation, because the two parties could not reach an agreement, the panel based on the provisions of the law, ordered the defendant to compensate the victim's family 72.6 million VND for mental damage and funeral expenses, and provide monthly support for Mr. Hoa's father 300,000 VND.

Nhu Binh