Trần Trọng Luận at the first instance trial in Bình Dương Province on Tuesday. — Photo plo.vn

BÌNH DƯƠNG  The People’s Court in southern Bình Dương Province on Tuesday handed down a death sentence to a man convicted of murder and appropriation of property at the first instance trial.

Trần Trọng Luận, 34, a resident from Tân Uyên Town, was accused of killing three family members including a grandmother, daughter and grandchild.

The convict also had to pay VNĐ400 million (US$17,200) in compensation to the victims’ family.

The Jury Board said due to a gambling addiction, Luận had decided to steal others’ property, resulting in the massacre. His behaviour is dangerous to society and caused anxiety among the public, so he must be isolated from society.

After losing a lot of money gambling, on April 24, Luận broke into the house of Đào Thị Thu Cúc, which is 50m from his house. He was attempting to enter through the roof when Cúc found him. He then slashed her with a machete before going on to murder Trần Thị Quỳnh Nhi, Cúc’s daughter and her niece, 8-year-old Nguyễn Thị Bảo Trân.

After killing the three people, Luân searched for money but only found some small notes with a total value of VNĐ199,000 ($8.6), so he did not take the cash but fled. Back home, Luận attempted suicide by ingesting 40 pills of Panadol, a medicine used to relieve pain and fever.

The alarm was raised at 7am the next day when Trần Thị Minh Phương, Cúc’s daughter and also Trân’s mother, visted Cúc’s house. She immediately reported the incident to local police.

Luận plead guilty at the trial. — VNS