A man in Bac Giang Province, who was sentenced to life in prison for murder, has been released after the guilty party confessed.
Nguyen Thanh Chan released after 10 years of captivity
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Chan, 52, from Me Village, Viet Yen District, was temporarily released from prison on November 4 and the People’s Supreme Court will review the original verdict at another appeal at the request of the head of the People’s Supreme Procuracy, Nguyen Hoa Binh.
According to the People’s Supreme Procuracy, on August 15, 2003, a woman named Nguyen Thi Hoan, from Me Village, was killed at her home with brutal injuries to her face and head. Based on the results of the investigation, Chan was suspected because his "left foot nearly fit the footprints left at the scene". Apparently, he also “had showed dubious signs on the day of the incident”. Bac Giang Province’s police prosecuted the case and arrested Chan for murder on September 29.
On March 26, 2004, Chan was sentenced to life imprisonment at a trial held by the Bac Giang Province People’s Court. After conviction, Chan maintained his innocence and made appeals against the original ruling. He was granted an appeal, which was held in July of 2004, but the People’s Supreme Court upheld the sentence.
At first the man was sentenced to death, but this was reduced to life in prison because of his father's contributions in the revolution.
Aside for his several attempts prove his own innocence, his wife also worked to prove that Chan did not commit the crime, even accusing another man Ly Nguyen Chung, who lived in the same village.
Still, the People’s Supreme Procuracy, along with other management agencies tried to extract a confession from Chung, After some time, on October 25, he admitted to the murder. He said his motive was robbery.
The head of the People’s Supreme Procuracy, Nguyen Hoa Binh, asked that the original verdict be reviewed and in the meantime the sentence be suspended.
The review hearing will be held on November 6.
The return of the prisoner was a source of great happiness for his family and neighbours. Many people were waiting outside his house from early yesterday morning to welcome him. The man, his family and much of the village could not hold back their tears upon his return.
Chan's return was a source of great happiness for his family and neighbours
Lawyer Vi Van Dieu, from the Hanoi Bar Association, said that Chan may be entitled to compensation of around VND520 million (USD24,761) for being wrongfully imprisoned for ten years.