Man kills sister over land inheritance conflict in central Vietnam

The suspect has been identified as 63-year-old Le Van Hung, a resident of Ninh Hoa Town in Khanh Hoa Province.

The victims, Le Thi Thu Thao, 61, and her husband, Phan Gia Nghia, 62, were both teachers at a primary school in Ninh Hoa. Thao had retired last year, while Nghia was still teaching.

According to witnesses, Hung, who lived near his sister, had ongoing conflicts with her regarding the division of their family's land. He had previously threatened her with a knife before the deadly incident on Jan. 10.

On the morning of the attack, Thao was in the yard of her home when Hung reportedly rushed at her with a knife, stabbing her multiple times. He then forced her into the house, locked the door, and fatally attacked her husband.

Neighbors, including Thao's older sister and brother-in-law, heard her cries for help, including pleas of "Brother, please don't kill me!" and rushed over to intervene. However, the couple had already succumbed to their injuries. Hung attempted suicide by ingesting pesticide but was taken to a medical facility and survived.

Police have cordoned off the scene and launched an investigation.

The house where a man killed his sister and her husband in Khanh Hoa Province, Jan. 10, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Bui Toan

Family land dispute

Neighbors described the victims as harmonious people who lived peacefully in their community. The couple had one daughter, a university student in Ho Chi Minh City.

Thao and Hung were among four siblings who inherited their parents' 14,000-square-meter plot of land, estimated to be worth around VND16 billion (US$630,000). As the parents passed away without a will, disputes arose over land ownership.

Hung, the eldest son, took control of all related documents and sold part of the land last year without consulting his siblings, leading them to file a lawsuit against him six months ago.

At the trial, the judge ruled that Hung was in the wrong and instructed the siblings to negotiate a fair division of the land. If they failed to reach an agreement, the court would issue a final ruling. Despite the court's instruction, Hung continued to claim ownership of the entire property.

"This is my land, and I'm going to slash anyone who dares touch it," Hung allegedly said after the court decision, according to his brother-in-law, Nguyen Hung.