VietNamNet Bridge - Because of petty conflicts in family life, many ruthless fathers used gasoline to burn their children. After a minute of anger in adults, children died unjustly or have to live with the pain of lifelong disability.

Six people of a family burnt alive

 

 

Public opinion has stirred by the news on a family of six people (including two children) which were burned in the northern port city of Hai Phong. The culprit is not a stranger, but the father of the two kids.

The incident took place at about 20h on March 17, 2013, in the village of Xich Tho in Hong Thai commune, An Duong district, Hai Phong city. At that time, neighbors discovered rising fire from the house of Mr. Tran Dinh Hiep, 29, accompanied by screams for help.

When they came, they saw all of the 6 people in the family burning like living torches. In particular, the two children were lying near the family pond.

It is said that the family conflict sourced from the fact that Hiep’s wife – Nguyen Thi Luyen, 29 – has two daughters, Tran Thi Ngoc, 5 and Tran Thi Huyen, 4. Being angry with Luyen for not having a son, Luyen’s father-in-law - Mr. Tran Dinh Hau, 53, scolded her all the time.

At the beginning, Hau was defined as the one who set the family on fire but it turns out that the culprit is his son, Tran Dinh Hiep.

According to investigators, at around 20:00 on March 17, Hiep took his wife and two daughters to their house in Xich Tho Hamlet, An Duong District. That night Diep's wife got into a physical confrontation with his father, in which they reportedly attempted to strangle each other.

Diep and his mother tried to break up the altercation, but failed. At this point Diep threatened that he would set fire to the house if they continued. Diep then took a petrol can and poured gasoline around the bed, setting it on fire. Six family members were hospitalized for burns.

Tran Thu Huyen, Hiep's 4-year old daughter, died on March 18 due to severe burns. A day later Hau, Hiep's father, also succumbed to his injuries. A third death, that of Tran Nhu Ngoc, Hiep's 5-year old daughter was reported on March 20.

At present, Hiep’s wife and mother are still in hospital, with a lot of burns. Hiep just got minor wounds.

Father burns his two daughters

 

 

After burning his daughter to death, defendant Huynh Thuat attempted suicide but failed. 

Also in Hai Phong, on the evening of February 14, 2013, Vu Duy Hien, 28, residing in Ngu Doan commune, Kien Thuy district, also soaked gasoline on himself and his two daughters and then set fire. The three died.

According to the police, before the lunar New Year, Hien and his wife - Nguyen Thi Quyen, 22 - quarreled very often. On February 9, they wrangled with each other. Quyen left home to her mother’s house in the same commune.

After several days of trying in vain to ask his wife back, on the evening of February 14, Hien held his two daughters of 4 years old and 18 months old on his hands and soaked themselves in gasoline and set fire.

When people discovered them, Hien jumped into a pond to stamp out the fire and fled. The two babies were taken to the Hai Phong Children's Hospital but due to severe injuries, both kids died on February 15.

Hien was arrested while hiding in his uncle’s home. After four days of treatment at a hospital, he died of severe burns. The incident caused relatives and neighbors shock because of the anger and conflict of adults; two innocent little girls died.

Another father will have to suffer from torment to the rest of his life after burning his daughter to death is Huynh Thuat, 53, residing in Go Vap District, HCM City.

In November 2010, Thuat’s daughter - Huynh Thi Thanh Tam, born in 1984 – frankly criticized her father for having affair with another woman, betraying her mother – Mrs. Ho Thi Phi Nga.

Thuat was so angry and put a burning incense into the fuel tank of a motorbike in the house, despite knowing his daughter was in the house. Tam couldn’t escape and died. Thuat drank pesticide to commit suicide but failed.

Being angry with his wife, father burns his son

 

Vu Van Quang cried for his crime with his son. 

Many people present at the Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Court at the hearing on 16/11/2011 could not hold their tears when they saw a 3-year-old boy, named Vu Quoc Linh, the child who was burned by his father in April 2010.

According to the indictment, Vu Van Quang got involved in gambling, often threatened to evict his wife, Le Thi Ha, born in 1984, from their home. In December 2009, Ha took her son to her parents’ house and asked for divorce.

On April 21, 2010, on the way to the court, Quang bought two liters of gasoline. At the court, Quang wanted to talk with his wife but she refused. With anger, Quang took his son to the restroom of the court and poured gasoline on the baby and threatened to burn unless Ha withdrew the divorce request. People discouraged him, so Quang could not perform the behavior.

A few days later, Quang came to his parent-in-law’s house to see his wife but he couldn’t find her. Quang poured gasoline on his son and set fire. Some people held the baby and threw him into a nearby pond put out the fire and then took him to a hospital. After overcoming the critical period and several skin graft surgeries, the child's health is now stable. However, the doctors had to remove all 10 fingers of the boy.

The court has sentenced Quang 20 years in jail for murder and he has to pay nearly VND63 million ($3,000) for the victim's family.

 

 

Dinh Thanh and the burned legs. 

In October 2011, people in Phuoc Hoa Commune, Tan Thanh District, Ba Ria Vung Tau province were so angry when Dinh Thanh, a third grader, was got his legs burned by his father.

Nguyen Van Hung, Thanh’s father, said the boy lived with his step mother when Hung worked far from home. Thanh’s step mother always called Hung to complain about the boy of playing hooky, going out late at night and beating her and her baby so Hung was very angry.

On the morning of October 8, Hung used gasoline from his motorbike to pour on the boy’s legs and set fire in order to threaten him. When the fire started, Thanh’s step mother stamped it out but the child's legs were badly burned.

Le Hieu