The London man who pleaded guilty to second degree murder in the stabbing death of his relative has been sentenced to life in prison.
Vuong Van Tran will be eligible for parole in 13 years.
Duy Van Nguyen, 31, was attacked while alone at his Railton Avenue home on August 12, 2011. He was stabbed 12 times in the face and neck.
Nguyen was developmentally delayed and he called Tran his ‘big brother.’
But in April, a London court heard 28-year-old Tran, who is married to Nguyen’s cousin, reportedly showed up at the house wearing a mask and carrying duct tape.
The court also heard his plan was to tie up Nguyen and steal $30,000-$50,000 in cash he believed was hidden in the house.
But when the mask he was wearing was ripped off, Tran grabbed a knife and stabbed Nguyen to death. He made off with only a Nintendo set.
In her sentencing Justice Lynda Templeton called the murder horrific, saying “This was a planned home invasion, every homeowner’s nightmare, an act that leaves all of us in London less safe.”
Before the sentencing Tran’s lawyer Stacey Nichols read a statement he wrote intended for the victim’s family, in which he express his sorrow.
“I want you to know I am sorry from the bottom of my heart. I never meant this to happen.”
Outside the courthouse Nichols explains “[Tran] is extremely remorseful and he has expressed that basically from just days after this terribly tragic event happened. He expressed it to the police and he expressed it by pleading guilty and never having the family or anyone else having to go through a preliminary hearing or a trial.”
London police Sgt. Sean Travis has been involved in the case since the beginning and says “It can happen at anytime with anybody. Most people want to believe it’s a big bad monster, but quite often it can be a simple person who made a bad decision.”
The sentencing hearing was held Friday after being put over on May 9.
