QUANG NGAI: Babysitter Nguyen Thi Quyen, owner of the unlicensed private childcare facility the central province of Quang Tri, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for “murder”, while also ordering her to compensate the victim’s family more than VNĐ279 million (US$10,770).
The Quang Ngai Provincial People’s Court, on Monday (May 18), opened the first-instance trial of defendant Nguyen Thi Quyen, 41, residing in Cam Thanh Ward, over a child abuse case that resulted in particularly serious consequences.
According to the indictment, on the morning of July 16, 2025, a child named L.A.K., born in 2024, was brought by the family to the private childcare facility Nhu Y, which was owned and directly operated by Quyen in Cam Thanh Ward.
During the childcare process, because the child was crying and fussy, Quyen repeatedly committed violent acts, forcefully throwing the baby onto a mattress, causing severe traumatic brain injuries.
After noticing that the child showed signs of turning pale and suffering convulsions, Queên and her relatives took the baby to the provincial Obstetrics and Paediatrics Hospital for emergency treatment, before the child was transferred to Danang General Hospital.
However, the baby died 20 days later.
A forensic examination concluded that the cause of death was respiratory and circulatory failure caused by brain swelling, resulting from traumatic brain injuries due to impact to the head.
Based on the evidence, the trial panel determined that Quyen was fully capable of bearing criminal responsibility and clearly understood that her actions could lead to fatal consequences, but still carried them out, demonstrating hooligan behaviour and disregard for human life.
However, during the investigation process, Quyen confessed honestly, showed remorse and encouraged her family to pay VNĐ100 million (US$3,860) in compensation to the victim’s family, the panel decided.
After considering all aggravating and mitigating circumstances, the trial panel sentenced Quyen to 20 years’ imprisonment for “murder” and ordered her to continue compensating the victim’s family with more than VNĐ279 million ($10,770). — Vietnam News/ANN
