The HCM City People’s Court has rejected appeals by two gang killers found guilty of a massacre that shocked the country last year.

The court upheld the verdict of life terms to death for two of three accused who killed six members of a family in southern Binh Phuoc Province.

According to the court verdict on Monday, Vu Van Tien, 24, faces the death sentence for being an accomplice to his friend, Nguyen Hai Duong, 24, the main culprit and mastermind of the massacre. Duong had been sentenced to death and cannot appeal the verdict.

Tran Dinh Thoai, 27, Duong’s friend, will serve 16 years in jail for supporting Duong by purchasing a knife for him to carry out the massacre and not reporting the conspiracy.

The HCM City court also rejected appeals by the victims’ family for a trial for Duong’s aunt, Tran Thi Trinh, and their demand for an increase in Thoai’s sentence.

VNS