For a cemetery plot in exchange for a life

Murder for cemetery land

Defendant Duong Van Chuong at trial. Photo: An Quynh.

At around 7:00 p.m. on April 9, 2019, Duong Van Chuong (born in 1972; residing in Khanh Son commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An) came home from work when Mr. NVT (born in 1977; residing in Khanh Son commune, Nam Dan district) came to visit. Being a long-time neighbor, Chuong brought out wine to invite Mr. T. to drink and stayed to have dinner with the family.

While drinking, Mr. T. asked Chuong about the promise to give him land to build a cemetery but why he did not keep his word. Words and sounds led to an argument between the two sides. Mr. T. raised his voice to intimidate Chuong. At that time, Duong Van Chuong continued to take out food to drink. Chuong took out his phone to call Mr. Nguyen Duc Th. (a neighbor) to come drink with him and Mr. T. While drinking, Mr. T. and Mr. Chuong continued to argue about building a grave in the cemetery. Mr. Th. saw this and sat down at the table to drink water before leaving.

Then, Mr. T. said to Chuong, "This guy is not afraid of anyone," then took the bowl and put it down hard in the middle of the tray. Duong Van Chuong was annoyed and said loudly, "I came home from work and you didn't respect me."

Duong Van Chuong at the police investigation agency. Photo: An Quynh

Mr. T. said, "I'm not afraid of even ten men." Angry, Chuong turned around and went into the kitchen to get a knife to stab Mr. T. but missed. Mr. T. bent down and used his right hand to pick up the bowl to fight back, but Chuong continued to stab the victim in the right chest.

Seeing the victim collapse on the spot, Duong Van Chuong ran outside and asked someone to take Mr. T. to the emergency room, but due to the seriousness of the injury and heavy blood loss, the victim died shortly after. Knowing that Mr. T. had died, Chuong went to the Nam Dan District Police to surrender and confess his crime.

The pain that remains

The trial of Duong Van Chuong opened at the end of July 2020, the trial date also marked the 100th day of Mr. T's death.

The sun was blazing hot, but Ms. M. (the victim's wife) and her three young children and relatives arrived at the court on time. Ms. M.'s family said that today was the 100th day since Mr. T.'s death. Everyone tried to hold a ceremony for Mr. T. early before coming down to the court. Seeing the defendant Chuong being escorted by the police to the courtroom, Ms. M. burst into tears. She did not think that Chuong would attack her husband so brutally because they had not had any major conflicts before.

At the trial, the defendant Chuong was evasive and denied his guilt, but later admitted his crime. The defendant said that he had been drinking at the time and could not control his emotions. Before that, there was no conflict between the defendant and the victim. The conflict only broke out at the drinking table, because Mr. T. challenged him, so the defendant could not control himself.

It is known that Mr. T.'s family situation is very difficult. The family's economy depends on Mr. T. Since her husband's death, Ms. M. has been in shock and has been severely depressed. Looking at this woman's thin, weak body, everyone feels sorry. Although she hates the person who caused her husband's death, Ms. M. still stands up and asks for leniency for the defendant. Faced with the forgiveness of the victim's wife, defendant Chuong can only bow his head to the ground. Ms. M. also asks the defendant to compensate 210 million VND for mental damage and funeral expenses. Each month, the defendant must provide 1 million VND/child for the victim's 3 children.

Previously, the defendant's wife had also borrowed 50 million VND to give to the victim's family for funeral expenses and hospital fees for Mr. T. Before the trial, the family had also compensated the victim's family with an additional 100 million VND. However, for unknown reasons, the defendant's family and relatives did not attend the trial. The defendant agreed to provide monthly child support of 1 million VND/child. However, Ms. M. suggested that the defendant consider the compensation of 210 million VND too high.

Ms. NTM stood up to ask for a lighter sentence for the defendant. Photo: An Quynh

After a comprehensive review of the case, the panel sentenced defendant Duong Van Chuong to 18 years in prison for the crime ofKilling. Regarding civil matters, the defendant is required to compensate the victim's family more than 199 million VND and provide 1 million VND/month for each of Mr. T's 3 children until they reach adulthood.

Just because of a moment of not being able to control himself, Chuong took the life of a person and put himself in prison. He was detained, all the debts weighed heavily on the shoulders of his wife and children. The case closed but the torment has not stopped for those involved. This is also an expensive lesson for those who stay, do not let a few words, do not let a little bit of self-esteem make us have to trade good relationships around us.