The defendants listen to sentence pronounced by the Dien Bien People’s Court. — VNA/VNS Photo Phan Tuan Anh

Their public trial began on Thursday morning at a stadium in Dien Bien City and concluded on Sunday morning, with the court announcing the punishment for a total of nine defendants involved in the case of killing Cao My Duyen, which shocked the nation earlier this year.

Vi Van Toan, 38, who was the mastermind of the crime, was sentenced to death for murder and 13 years for kidnapping and appropriation of property.

Bui Van Cong, 44, was sentenced to death for murder, 14 years for raping, 13 years for kidnapping and appropriation of property, and 24 months for storing drugs.

Vuong Van Hung, 35, was given the death penalty for murder, 10 years behind bars for raping, and 12 years for kidnap and appropriation of property.

Pham Van Nhiem, 47, and Luong Van La, 26, were sentenced to death for murder, 12 years for raping, and 11 years for kidnap and appropriation of property.

Luong Van Hung, 39, was condemned to death for murder, 13 years for raping, and 12 years for kidnapping and appropriation of property.

Pham Van Dung, 47, and Cam Van Chuong, 45, received 10-year and nine-year jail terms, respectively, for raping.

Bui Thi Kim Thu, Cong’s 44-year-old wife, was sent to prison for three years for failing to report the crimes.

According to police, Tran Thi Hien, 44, the victim's mother, hired Cong to deliver heroin and owed him VND30 million (US$1,300). Cong wished to take back the debt from Hien.

Toan, whom Hien allegedly owed VND300 million ($13,000) for drugs since 2009, thought the woman would pay him the money to save her daughter. But Hien refused to do so.

On January 4, 2019 – Lunar New Year's eve, after taking the girl to his house, Cong and his gang, including Nhiem, La, Hung and Dung, were believed to have taken turns to repeatedly rape Duyen for three consecutive days.

Hung and Chuong allegedly raped the victim once in the early hours of February 7 before she was strangled to death and left at an abandoned house near Cong’s house.

Cong’s wife, Thu, witnessed the girl being raped and killed by the men, but did not inform the police.

In another trial last month, Hien was sentenced to 20 years in jail for her connection to a drugs ring which led to her daughter being kidnapped, raped and killed. She was found guilty of storing, transporting and illegally purchasing narcotics. — VNS

Mother of murdered girl in Dien Bien jailed for 20 years

A mother in Dien Bien Province has been sentenced to 20 years in jail for her connection to a drugs ring which led to her daughter being kidnapped, repeatedly raped and killed during the 2019 Lunar New Year holiday.