Capital city police confirmed a suspect arrested on Monday had murdered two members of a family in Thach That District.

Nguyen Van Ky.

Police announced the information yesterday at a press conference on the results of the investigation into the crime.

The alleged killer, Nguyen Van Ky, 45, from the same district, was previously in custody for burglary and drug usage. He was arrested on Monday for his involvement in the killings of Nguyen Luong Chuan, 57, and his son Nguyen Luong Chinh, 27, in their house.

The police found two mobile phones, which he robbed from the victims while conducting the burglary. One of his shirts was stained with the victims' blood.

Colonel Nguyen Van Vien, the Ha Noi Police's Chief of Staff, said Ky confessed to the crime.

Ky was homeless and addicted to drugs, and used to scout the area looking for easy targets for theft, according to police.

At around 1am on Monday, Ky broke into the two-story house in Thach That District from the second floor. He went downstairs to search for valuables when Chuan saw him and shouted for help. The man allegedly stabbed Chuan to death. Chinh rushed over and was also killed.

Chuan's wife and other son were injured trying to stop the burglar. They have recovered after treatment in hospital.

A relative who lives near the house said he saw the burglar jumping over the fence to escape the house. He dropped a hat, a coat, his shoes and a pair of scissors while fleeing.

Chuan ran a wood-processing workshop inside his house. His family is said to be a well-to-do family in the neighbourhood.

VNS