The People’s Court of Long An Province in southern Vietnam handed down a 20-year jail term to a local man for suffocating his partner to death while the couple were having sex.

Le Van Chien, residing in Nhon Thanh Commune, Tan Thanh District, was given the sentence during the first-instance trial held on Friday last week.

According to the indictment, Chien began his intimate relationship with N. in mid-2022 and had consensual sex with her many times.

Chien allegedly gave the girl VND1-2 million (US$40.5-81) each time. The girl, also hailing from Nhon Thanh, was 18 years old at the time.

Following a drinking session on November 1, 2022, Chien invited N. to a garden on his father's property, where the two engaged in consensual sexual activity.

However, the girl reached into her partner’s pocket and pulled out VND700,000 ($28.34) before they started, leading to disagreement between them and the girl slapping his face.

In response, Chien used his hands to cover her mouth and nose until she lay immobile.

Thinking that she was dead, Chien carried her in his arms to leave the garden but then he slipped and fell, dropping her face down in a waterlogged rice field.

Chien left the scene and went home to sleep.

Meanwhile, the girl died as her face was smothered with mud and water.

The following morning, Chien visited her residence, where locals had already brought her body. Subsequently, he turned himself in to police officers later that same day.

A prosecutor in the trial proposed a life sentence for Chien, while the judge elaborated that a 20-year jail term was appropriate for him as he had turned himself in, showed his repentance, and paid VND200 million ($8,098) in compensation to the deceased victim’s family.

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