A man in Hanoi has been sentenced to death for the murder of four people in his younger brother’s family over a conflict relating to their property.

The municipal People’s Court held the trial of Nguyen Van Dong, 53, on Thursday and sentenced him the same day.

The deceased victims are 50-year-old Nguyen Van Hai (Dong’s younger brother), 49-year-old Doan Thi Viet (Dong’s sister-in-law), Nguyen Thi Bac (Dong’s niece), and one-year-old Nguyen Huyen My (Dong’s grandniece).

Do Thi Hong Nhung, My’s mother and the wife of Hai’s son – Nguyen Van Hiep, was also attacked but managed to survive.

Aside from the death penalty, the court also ruled that Dong would be required to pay the victims’ family VND597 million (US$25,870) as compensation for their losses. 

He will also be required to pay Pham Hoang Khanh Diep, Bac’s child, VND1.5 million ($65) per month until the child reaches 18 years old, as well as VND240 million ($10,400) to Nhung for her injuries.

According to the indictment, Dong and Hai had a dispute over a piece of land their parents had left them in Hong Ha Commune, Dan Phuong District, Hanoi.

Following a conversation with Hiep on the evening of August 29, Dong believed that Hiep and Viet were behind the property feud between him and his younger brother.

On the morning of September 1, Dong carried a large knife to Hai’s house and stabbed Viet to death before taking aim at Hiep.

Hiep managed to run away, thus Dong decided to go after Hai, Bac, Nhung, and My.

Dong then returned to his home and attempted to commit suicide.

After he failed to do so, he returned to the scene and kept slashing the bodies until police arrived and took him into custody.

At the court, Dong expressed regret over his crimes and stated he had only meant to threaten Viet and Hiep.

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