Teacher mistakenly shot hunting friend sentenced

On the morning of January 27, 2021, the trial of the case "Involuntary manslaughter”occurred in Huoi Khun village, Muong Long commune, Ky Son district against defendant Lau Ba Gio (born in 1976), residing in Muong Long 2 village, Muong Long commune, Ky Son district, Nghe An province (currently a teacher at Huoi Tu 2 Primary School).

Defendant Lau Ba Gio. Photo: Hoang Tuan

According to the indictment of the People's Procuracy of Ky Son district, at about 8:00 a.m. on August 24, 2020, Lau Ba Gio and Lau Ba Xong invited each other to go hunting wild animals in the Huoi Khun village area, Muong Long commune. When going, Lau Ba Gio and Lau Ba Xong each brought a homemade gun. After arriving, Gio and Xong hunted wild animals until 7:00 p.m. on the same day, then set up a shelter at the base of a large tree. At about 0:00 a.m. on August 25, 2020, Lau Ba Gio woke up and went to the hiding area to hunt rats. About 30 minutes later, Gio turned on the flashlight to check and discovered a reflection of light, so he thought it was the eye of a wild animal. Gio used the flintlock gun he was carrying toward the light and fired a shot. After shooting, Gio heard a small groan, so he went closer to check and discovered that Lau Ba Xong was dead.

The forensic autopsy conclusion of the Criminal Techniques Department of Nghe An Provincial Police concluded that Lau Ba Xong died of acute respiratory failure and acute circulatory failure due to a bullet piercing the heart and left lung.

At the trial, the defendant confessed and admitted to the crime. The victim's family representative asked the panel of judges to reduce the defendant's sentence. Considering that the defendant committed the crime unintentionally, had a good personal history, had a clear place of residence, and was currently a teacher, so it was not necessary to isolate the defendant from social life, the panel of judges sentenced Lau Ba Gio to 12 months in prison but suspended the sentence, with a probationary period of 24 months.