A Hanoi man has been condemned to 12 years in jail for critically injuring a thief after attacking him with a sword last year.

The municipal People’s Court on Monday imposed the prison term upon Le Van Anh, 32, for murder.

The court also sentenced Nguyen Ba Dung, 35, to 15 months behind bars, Quyen Van Uoc, 50, to 12 months in jail, and Nguyen Van Long, 33, to 10 months in prison for theft.

Long, however, was given a suspended sentence.

According to the indictment, Dung, Long, and Uoc traveled on two motorbikes to Quynh Do Village in Thanh Tri District, Hanoi on the night of February 24, 2020.

They brought along a can of pepper spray, a flashlight, metal scissors, and pliers with a plan to rob local residents.

They later spotted a motor cart, worth about VND8 million (US$348), in front of Anh’s house.

Wielding a sword, Anh caught up with the thieves after they took the vehicle for about 30 meters.

Long and Uoc managed to run away on one motorbike, while Dung tried to stop Anh with the pepper spray.

However, Dung ended up being hit in the head by Anh’s sword, causing him to collapse on the ground.

Despite the thief's plea for mercy, Anh repeatedly attacked him with his weapon until the thief passed out.

Anh then headed home, while Dung was brought to the hospital for emergency treatment and survived his critical injuries.

He turned himself in to local police on the following day.

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