The defendants at the court. — VNA/VNS Photo Phan Tuan Anh

Vi Van Toan, Bui Van Cong, Vuong Van Hung, Pham Van Nhiem, Luong Van Hung and Luong Van La all saw their appeals fail.

Vi Van Toan, identified as the ringleader, was sentenced to death for murder and 12 years in prison for kidnapping and appropriation of property.

Bui Van Cong was sentenced to death for murder, 14 years for rape, 12 years for kidnapping and appropriation of property, and 24 months for storing drugs.

Vuong Van Hung was given the death penalty for murder, 10 years for rape, and 12 years for kidnap and appropriation of property.

Pham Van Nhiem was sentenced to death for murder, 12 years for rape, and 12 years for kidnap and appropriation of property.

Luong Van Hung was given the death penalty for murder, 14 years for rape, and 12 years for kidnapping and appropriation of property.

Luong Van La was sentenced to death for murder, 14 years for rape, and 11 years for kidnap and appropriation of property.

The court also upheld the sentence of another three defendants.

Pham Van Dung and Cam Van Chuong received 10-year and nine-year jail terms, respectively, for rape.

Bui Thi Kim Thu, Cong’s wife, was sent to prison for three years for failing to report the crimes.

The shocking incident happened in January 2019 when the victim was abducted in retaliation over a drugs debt.

She was repeatedly raped and eventually strangled to death with her body left in an abandoned house in Dien Bien Province.

According to police, Tran Thi Hien, 44, the victim's mother, hired Công to deliver heroin and owed him VND30 million (US$1,300).

Cong then kidnapped her daughter to recoup his debt, but the mother never paid the ransom money.

Toan, whom Hien had allegedly owed VND300 million ($13,000) for drugs since 2009, thought the woman would pay him the money to save her daughter. But Hien refused to do so.

On January 4, 2019 – Lunar New Year's eve, after taking the girl to his house, Cong and his gang, including Nhiem, La, Hung and Dung, took turns to rape the woman for three days.

Hung and Chuong allegedly raped the victim once in the early hours of February 7 before she was strangled to death and left at an abandoned house near Cong’s home.

Cong’s wife, Thu, witnessed the girl being raped and killed by the men, but did not inform police. VNS

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