Life sentence for man who killed his wife for not cooking

The last straw

In January 2019, Nguyen Van Rang and Ms. Bui Thi L. (born in 1980) got married and lived together in Vinh Dai 1 residential area, Van Duc ward (Chi Linh). Life went on and they thought they would be happy when their child was born. However, in early 2023, Rang and his wife had conflicts and often argued.

On the afternoon of June 20, 2023, Rang told his wife to go help his mother dry rice. But when he came home from work and saw his mother carrying rice alone, Rang went home and scolded Ms. L.

Around 12 o'clock the next day, June 21, 2023, after waking up, Rang went into the kitchen to eat rice and saw that his wife had not boiled vegetables, only a bowl of minced meat. Seeing Ms. L. lying in the bedroom, Rang asked: "Can you cook rice? From tomorrow I will buy a separate rice cooker to cook." After that, Rang and Ms. L. argued and cursed each other. Rang cursed his wife: "If you shut up, I will beat you up now", Ms. L. replied: "If you are so good, kill me."

That challenge was like the last straw. Rang ran to the door, grabbed a 30cm long knife, slashed the back of the knife once, hitting Ms. L. on the forehead, then Ms. L. pushed Rang to the floor. Rang and Ms. L. wrestled and struggled with each other. Seeing the knife on the living room floor, Rang picked it up and slashed Ms. L. twice in a row on the head.

Seeing that, Mrs. Ngát (Rang's mother) intervened and grabbed the knife but failed, so he ran outside and shouted for help. Rang continued to slash Ms. L.'s head and face many times with the knife. When Ms. L. used her hands to hold her head, Rang still slashed her hands many times. Only when Ms. L. said "I beg you" did Rang throw the knife on the floor. Rang sat down on the floor and hugged Ms. L.

Rang and everyone then took Ms. L. to the Chi Linh City Medical Center for emergency treatment, but Ms. L. died from acute blood loss. Rang went to the Chi Linh City Police to confess his actions.

Late regret

In early November, the Hai Duong Provincial People’s Court held a first-instance trial of Nguyen Van Rang for murder. Because of a small conflict, the defendant disregarded the law, disregarded the lives of others, and killed his wife. The defendant’s actions were dangerous to society, violated criminal law, and needed to be severely punished.

Having the last word before the verdict, Rang bowed his head in remorse and regret. The defendant asked for a lighter sentence so that he could soon return to his family, raise his children and rebuild his life.

The court sentenced Nguyen Van Rang to life in prison for murder. Rang bowed his head and accepted the harsh sentence of the law.

It is known that Rang and Ms. L. got married when both had failed in their previous marriages. During their time together, Rang and Ms. L. had a child together born in 2020 and a child from Ms. L.'s previous marriage.

Rang is a construction worker, Ms. L. is a freelancer. She and her husband are always polite and live in harmony with their neighbors, so they are loved by everyone.

After the murder, L's family took her back to her hometown in Phu Tho for burial. At the trial, everyone was moved to tears for the 3-year-old child who had to suffer the loss of her mother and her father who had gone to prison with no return date... The child is currently being raised by her grandmother.

This incident continues to be a warning to those who often resolve family conflicts with violence. This is also a "bell" for local authorities and organizations to do a better job of detecting, handling, and promptly reconciling and ending conflicts in families and villages, avoiding the situation of "the last straw breaking the camel's back" leading to heartbreaking consequences and affecting social order.