Slashed neighbor many times because of arguing about drinking

On March 13, Nghe An Provincial People's Court opened a first-instance criminal trial of Lu Van Tuong (born 1983), residing in Chau Phong commune, Quy Chau district, for the crime of "Murder".

According to the investigation agency's documents, at around 10:30 a.m. on September 30, 2019, Lu Van Tuong, Ha Van Ngoc (born in 1975) and some other people organized a party. In the early afternoon, when the party ended and some people left, Ngoc and Tuong had a conflict over who drank less alcohol and who drank more.

Defendant Lu Van Tuong. Photo: Tran Vu

Angry because he saw Ngoc cursing on the stairs, Tuong went to get a knife. When Tuong was climbing the stairs, Ngoc punched him. Then Tuong used the knife to slash Ngoc's arm and head. During the struggle, both of them fell down the stairs.

Ang Ngoc was taken to the emergency room by everyone and treated in the hospital for 2 months with a disability rate of 65%, costing more than 70 million VND. After causing the incident, Lu Van Tuong went to the police station to surrender.

At the trial, the defendant admitted to using a knife to slash someone, but did not agree with being prosecuted and tried for murder. Defendant Tuong said that he only beat Ngoc and did not intend to kill anyone.

However, the panel of judges determined that the defendant stabbed the victim in vital areas such as the head, body, and arms with the intention of killing. The victim did not die because it was beyond the defendant's will. Therefore, the prosecution of the defendant for murder was correct and in accordance with the law.

Considering the case as a whole, the court sentenced Lu Van Tuong to 12 years in prison. The defendant was ordered to compensate the victim more than 120 million VND.

Tran Vu