On June 30, the People's Court of Ca Mau Province will hold an appellate trial for defendant Pham Hong Nhi (born 1985, residing in Da Bac commune, Ca Mau province) in connection with a serious traffic accident that resulted in her husband's death in September 2024. This case is identified as a wife causing a traffic accident while driving, leading to her husband's death.
Earlier, in the first-instance verdict, the People's Court of Region 3 – Ca Mau sentenced the defendant to 1 year and 6 months in prison for "Violating regulations on road traffic participation." After the verdict, the defendant appealed, requesting a retrial with the hope of having her criminal responsibility reduced.
In the documents prepared for the appellate trial, defendant Pham Hong Nhi continued to submit numerous documents proving her difficult family circumstances, emphasizing that she is the main breadwinner, caring for elderly parents and two school-age children. She argued that after the traffic accident that caused her husband's death, the family fell into particularly difficult circumstances, losing its economic pillar.
While awaiting the appellate trial, defendant Nhi daily rides a motorcycle to collect fish to sell for a living.
Regarding the request for a reduced sentence, the defendant continues to ask the court to consider mitigation during the appellate trial, on the grounds that the consequences of the traffic accident were unintentional. Certificates from the local authorities of Da Bac commune have also been added to the case file to support the request for a reduced sentence.
Additionally, the Women's Union of Da Bac commune has sent a document to the prosecuting authorities in Ca Mau, requesting consideration of humanitarian factors in the case. According to the document, the defendant has a stable residence in the locality, complies with regulations, and participates in social activities. The union also stated that the wife's actions causing the accident did not stem from a subjective intent to cause harm.
During the preparation for the appellate trial, the lawyers defending the defendant also argued that the case has many mitigating circumstances. The request for a reduced sentence is set against the backdrop that the defendant is both the person who caused the traffic accident and the only remaining breadwinner in the family after her husband's death.
According to experts, appellate trials in traffic accident cases usually comprehensively consider factors of fault, circumstances, and actual consequences. In this case, the reduction of the sentence will depend on the trial panel's assessment of the degree of violation and the additional mitigating circumstances.
Earlier, the incident occurred on September 12, 2024. After attending a local party, the defendant drove a motorcycle carrying her husband home when the accident happened: the vehicle lost control and hit a roadside tree. The result was that her husband died at the scene, while the defendant was seriously injured. A blood test showed alcohol concentration.
The appellate trial of the case in Ca Mau is attracting public attention, especially concerning the circumstances of the request for a reduced sentence and the family's situation after the husband's death in the traffic accident.
