Vietnamese-American gets 7 years for stabbing man after traffic collision
A court in Ho Chi Minh City has sentenced a 32-year-old US citizen to seven years in prison for attempting to kill a man after a traffic collision last year.
Nguyen Trung Hau, 32, received a "lenient sentence" because he had confessed to the crime and compensated the victim.
Hau also had a clean record and the victim also withdrew the criminal case against him, the panel of judges said.
Prosecutors said Hau was driving his wife on Nguyen Phuc Nguyen Street near Saigon Railway Station in District 3 on July 14, when his motorbike collided with the motorbike of Nguyen Dang Long, 20. The latter was reportedly running a red light, leading to the collision.
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| Nguyen Trung Hau stands trial in HCM City on May 16, 2016. |
Nobody was hurt but their quarrel led to a fight before Long ran away.
The couple encountered Long, who was walking at a nearby section. Hau stopped in front of Long and the latter suddenly punched to Hau's left eye. The driver pulled out a jack-knife and stabbed in Long's left hip.
Long was rushed to hospital. He has recovered.
During the trial, prosecutors had proposed prison terms of 12-14 years against Hau.
Hau's lawyer said his client should have been charged with deliberately injuring others, instead of murder. Vietnam does not differentiate between attempted murder and murder, focusing on the intent.
.Hau now has two weeks to appeal the verdict.
