The city’s police announced Friday Nguyen Thi Kim Sau, a resident of An Hai Ward, has been arrested to be investigated for “murder.”
The victim’s elder son, 19-year-old Nguyen Thai Bao, has also been detained. The younger son, Nguyen Quoc Huy, was 14 at the time of the incident, placing him below the age of full criminal responsibility under Vietnamese law. Investigators are preparing procedures to send him to a reform school.
According to the investigation, Sau married the victim, 42-year-old Nguyen Chien Thang, last year. Bao and Huy are both his sons from a previous marriage.
Authorities allege that during family disputes, Sau repeatedly told the boys their father intended to leave his assets to a child he purportedly had with another woman.
She is accused of encouraging the two brothers to kill their father, promising she would manage the estate and eventually divide the property between them, even guaranteeing she would take care of Bao after he completed any resulting prison sentence.
Investigators said Sau later mapped out a detailed murder plan with the brothers.
Under the alleged scheme, the two sons were supposed to go out to play games at an internet café on the night of Feb. 23. Sau would provoke an argument with Thang, setting the stage for all three of them to carry out the attack together.
Nguyen Thi Kim Sau after being arrested in Da Nang for allegedly plotting her husband’s murder. Photo by police |
The night of the murder
The plan allegedly deviated when, at around 10 p.m. that night, Bao got into a physical altercation with his father at their home and left the house.
Police said Bao returned at around 2 a.m. the next day and attempted to strangle his sleeping father with a cloth rope. When the victim resisted and shouted for help, Bao fled to a nearby hotel.
At around 4 a.m., Sau instructed Huy to text Bao, telling him to return home to finish the attack.
Investigators allege Sau prepared a hammer, leaving it on the staircase, and opened a window so Bao could sneak back inside. Bao then allegedly struck his father in the head with the hammer while Sau watched and urged him on.
After the victim collapsed, Sau allegedly incited Huy to grab an iron and repeatedly strike his father in the head until he died.
Cover-up
Following the killing, Sau allegedly cleaned the crime scene, instructed Bao to remain hidden at the hotel, and told Huy to change out of his bloodstained clothes to conceal the crime.
However, investigators quickly became suspicious after identifying glaring inconsistencies between Bao’s statements and the forensic evidence collected at the scene.
Police also noted that Sau showed little sign of grief following her husband’s death. Instead, she continued operating her business and socializing with friends, while authorities uncovered signs of financial irregularities. Huy began displaying unusual psychological behavior and frequently left home to play video games.
On May 20, police placed both Sau and Huy under detention. Investigators said the suspects admitted to their roles after being confronted with evidence.
The investigation is ongoing.
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