Tolerance in the courtroom

Tragedy on the anniversary of death.

At the first-instance trial of the murder case, the entire courtroom fell silent as they witnessed the moment the victim's family stood up to plead with the judges to reduce the sentence for the defendant, who had taken their son's life.

On the afternoon of July 29, 2024, Danh Vu Dang (29 years old), residing in Tan Hung hamlet, Chau Thanh commune, attended a memorial service at a friend's house. What started as jokes escalated after a few rounds of beer between Dang and Ha Minh Thuan, who were sitting at the same table. They exchanged harsh words and then fought, before others intervened. Afterwards, they continued drinking together.

Later that evening, as Dang was preparing to leave, Thuan stopped him and attacked him, leading to a brawl. Dang repeatedly hit Thuan on the head with his helmet, causing Thuan to fall face down on the road. Seeing Thuan bleeding profusely, Dang and others took him to the hospital for emergency treatment.

Defendant Ly Thi My Thanh bids farewell to her husband before being escorted to the detention center. Photo: Ut Chuyen

Thuan was taken to a medical facility for treatment, but died two days later due to a head injury. Upon learning of Thuan's death, Dang surrendered to the police. Before the court, Dang expressed remorse and repeatedly apologized for his impulsive actions.

What started as a moment of anger escalated into a criminal case, plunging both families into a difficult situation. During the court proceedings, what moved many was the attitude of Mrs. H, a relative of the victim. Instead of demanding high compensation or a harsh sentence, Mrs. H requested that the court consider mitigating circumstances for Dang. Mrs. H stated: “This incident was something no one wanted to happen. My son also bears some responsibility for the case, and Dang's family has already compensated my family with over 150 million VND. Through this incident, the defendant Dang will regret his actions for the rest of his life. I hope the court will reduce his sentence so that he can return to his family soon.”

The trial panel determined that the defendant Dang's actions were dangerous to society, but considering that the defendant confessed honestly, showed remorse, voluntarily compensated for the damages, and especially received forgiveness from the victim's family who requested a reduced sentence, the court decided to sentence Dang to 10 years in prison for murder.

The husband's tolerance

Ly Thi My Thanh (35 years old) and Cai Hoang Duy, both residing in Rach Gia ward, are husband and wife and have one child together. The pressure of making ends meet, along with disagreements on how to raise their child, caused conflict between Thanh and her husband.

On the evening of August 18, 2022, Duy and Thanh had a heated argument. In a fit of anger, Thanh doused Duy with gasoline and set him on fire. The flames engulfed his clothes, causing severe burns, and Duy was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. After months of treatment, Duy's health gradually recovered, but he suffered serious aftereffects, with a 24% disability rating.

At the first-instance trial, Thanh sobbed, admitting to all her actions, saying that she was under mental pressure and lacked self-control, leading to the heartbreaking consequences. Thanh earnestly pleaded for leniency so she could return home to care for her husband and children. Surprisingly, Duy asked the court to reduce his wife's sentence. He choked up, saying, "Even though my wife made a mistake, we still have our children, and my children need a mother. I have forgiven her and hope the court will consider giving her the lightest possible sentence." The physical pain was still evident in the husband's eyes, but the love and devotion of their many years together led him to choose forgiveness. After deliberation, the court sentenced Thanh to 3 years in prison for murder.

UT CHUYEN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/long-bao-dung-chon-cong-duong-a427376.html