Wife used rope to strangle husband to death

On June 14, the People's Court of Nghe An province opened a first-instance criminal trial of defendant Sam Thi Huong (born 1959), residing in Thong Thu commune, Que Phong district, for the crime of "Murder". The victim in the case is Huong's husband - Mr. Lu Van P.

According to the case file, on the afternoon of January 12, 2021, Mr. P. drank alcohol with some people. At 7:00 p.m. the same day, while Mrs. Huong was feeding the chickens, she heard her grandson run out and say, "Grandma, he threw bowls and plates." Huong ran inside and saw her husband smashing bowls and pots with a stick.

Defendant Sam Thi Huong received 7 years in prison for killing her husband. Photo: Tran Vu

Seeing that, the woman blamed her husband, "I just went to work and sent home money to buy ten big bowls, you broke almost all of them, you will die." Mr. P. cursed and insulted his wife and then left.

At this time, because of anger at Mr. P. destroying property, cursing and insulting her, Huong used a rope to put around her husband's neck, strangling him, causing him to suffocate and fall to the floor.

Seeing her husband not moving, Huong took a wooden stick and hit Mr. P on the head. As a result, Mr. Lu Van P.deathon the spot

On January 13, Huong turned herself in to the police. Investigators determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation due to strangulation with a rope.

At the trial, the defendant initially denied the crime, saying she did not beat or strangle her husband. The defendant said that after an argument, her husband hanged himself. Huong also said that she was beaten by the police, so throughout the investigation and during the crime scene reenactment, she did not dare to make any mistakes as she had initially stated.

However, after being encouraged by her children, Huong admitted to killing her husband. The defendant stated that she was afraid that her children would not visit her, which was why she gave such inconsistent testimony at this trial.

The panel of judges determined that the defendant's act of murder was a violation of the law. However, in this case, the defendant committed the crime under emotional agitation, and the defendant is an elderly person with limited legal awareness, so mitigation should be considered. Considering the case as a whole, the panel sentenced Sam Thi Huong to 7 years in prison for "Murder".