VietNamNet Bridge - Senior lieutenant colonel Pham Van Tien, chief investigator said that Tran Thuy Lieu who earlier confessed to burning her husband – a vocal journalist - to death did so for two reasons.

Wife confesses to burning journalist to death

Le Hoang Hung, 51 of Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper knew about this.

Lieu told police that Hung beat her and shouted at her out of jealousy.

The second reason is that she lost a lot of money gambling in Cambodia late last year. Investigation shows that she owed around VND1 billion (US$50,000) to gamblers.

Lieu wanted to sell the house to settle the debt but Hung refused.

According to colonel Phan Chi Thanh, director of the Long An provincial police, Lieu was suspected right from the first day Hung was set on fire.

After nearly a month, Lieu confessed Sunday evening to the horrendous crime.

According to a police report yesterday, Lieu herself bought a rope and VND20,000 worth of petrol held in a plastic bag on the morning of January 17.

At noon when no one was at home, Lieu tied a rope to the balcony on the second floor and hid it in a dark corner.

At 0 h two days later (January 19), Lieu dropped down the rope onto the ground so as to make investigators believe that someone else climbed onto the floor and carried out the act.

According to the police report, she then poured the petrol bought earlier onto Hung’s body while he was sleeping.

Seeing the flame, Lieu quickly ran into another room and lay down as if nothing happened.

Hung with his body on fire then stormed out and cried for help.

The report said that Lieu’s confession is consistent with evidence gathered at the crime scene.

According to VnExpress, chief investigator Tien earlier said Lieu is the mastermind but there is one accomplice helping her in the murder.

But as the investigation process is not complete, Tien declined to reveal the name of this accomplice.

After the fire was extinguished, Lieu and neighbors took Hung to a local hospital. He was later transferred to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City but 10 days after the fire, Hung died.

Source: Tuoi Tre