Dong Tam Murder Case: 2 Death Sentences, 14 Defendants Released in Court

On the afternoon of September 14, the People's Court of Hanoi sentenced 29 defendants in the case of Murder and Resisting Law Enforcement Officers that occurred in Dong Tam, My Duc, Hanoi.

According to the People's Court, the case arose from a land dispute at Dong Senh, resulting in...3 police officers diedOf the 29 defendants, 19 defendants were proposed by the Hanoi People's Procuracy to change the charge from Murder to Resisting a Person on Official Duty.

The panel of judges determined: In terms of proceedings, the Hanoi Police Investigation Agency and the Hanoi People's Procuracy had exercised their authority and followed proper procedures. During the investigation, the defendants did not file any complaints. All procedural steps were legal.

The defendants stood listening to the verdict. Photo: Hung Anh

According to the People's Court, for a long time, the "Consensus Group" had many acts of causing disturbances, illegally arresting people, affecting security and order in the area. Members of the "Consensus Group" livestreamed on the internet, declaring that they would kill 300-500 people in the functional forces. In addition, the subjects bought gasoline, made grenades, primitive weapons with high lethality... to resist.

In the early morning of January 9, 2020, when the authorities entered to protect the targets, the subjects used available weapons to resist. Three police officers were killed while performing their duties after being attacked by the subjects, falling into a hole, and having gasoline poured on them and set on fire.

The panel of judges determined: The actions of the defendants who directly took action were extremely cruel, resulting in the deaths of three police officers. The defendants committed the crime with the goal of destroying the police force. These actions fully constitute the crime of murder. When the defendants threw the grenades at the police force, fortunately the grenades did not explode, which was beyond the defendants' subjective consciousness.

In addition, a group of defendants were farmers with limited legal knowledge. They were lured and promised land division by the leaders of the "Consensus Group" Le Dinh Kinh, Le Dinh Cong, Bui Viet Hieu, etc., so they joined in to oppose the authorities. Therefore, there is a basis to change the charges against some defendants from Murder to Resisting Law Enforcement Officers.

Regarding the request of some lawyers to return the investigation file for further investigation, the panel of judges said that it was unnecessary. Because the defendants' statements were consistent with the evidence and investigation of the authorities. During the process of taking the defendants' statements, the investigation agency recorded audio and video according to regulations. During the trial, witnessed by the panel of judges, the People's Procuracy and the press, the defendants honestly confessed their crimes and repented. Some defendants refused to have their lawyers continue to defend them.

The panel of judges proceeded to pronounce sentence.

Based on the above reasons, the panel sentenced the group of defendants for Murder: Le Dinh Cong to death penalty.Le Dinh ChucDeath penalty, Le Dinh Doanh life sentence.

The defendants: Bui Viet Hieu was sentenced to 16 years in prison, Nguyen Quoc Tien to 13 years in prison, and Nguyen Van Tuyen to 12 years in prison.

The group of defendants for the crime of Resisting a person on official duty: Bui Thi Noi was sentenced to 6 years in prison, Bui Dinh Huy to 5 years in prison, Le Dinh Quang to 5 years in prison, Le Dinh Quan to 5 years in prison, Bui Van Tien to 5 years in prison, Bui Van Quan to 5 years in prison, Nguyen Van Due to 3 years in prison, Bui Van Tuan to 3 years in prison, Trinh Van Hai to 3 years in prison.

Bui Van Nien received a suspended sentence of 3 years, Bui Thi Duc received a suspended sentence of 3 years, Nguyen Thi Bet received a suspended sentence of 3 years, Nguyen Thi Lua received a suspended sentence of 3 years, Tran Thi La received a suspended sentence of 3 years, Nguyen Xuan Dieu received a suspended sentence of 3 years, Mai Thi Phan received a suspended sentence of 30 months, Le Thi Loan received a suspended sentence of 30 months, Dao Thi Kim received a suspended sentence of 24 months, Nguyen Van Trung received a suspended sentence of 18 months, and the defendants Le Dinh Hien, Nguyen Viet Tien, Nguyen Thi Dung and Tran Thi Phuong received a suspended sentence of 15 months.

Handling of evidence: Confiscated and destroyed 7 grenades, bricks, beer bottles, iron pipes with knives attached... The panel of judges allowed immediate release in court for defendants who were given suspended sentences./.