Jealous Husband Who Stabbed Wife To Death As She Slept In Bed Jailed For Life

By Grâçia Ada Obi

A jealous husband who stabbed his wife to death as she slept after believing she was having an affair has been jailed for life.

Hai Van Nguyen, 42, murdered mother-of-three Hien Thi Vu by stabbing her five times with a kitchen knife at their home in Hatfield Close in Lewisham, Southeast London, United Kingdom (UK) on April 13.

Nguyen admitted manslaughter and was convicted of the more serious charge of murder following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court.

A jury rejected his defence that he had lost control when attacking his wife after he blamed his actions on a head injury he suffered in a motorbike crash more than 20 years ago.

On Friday 19 December, Nguyen was sentenced to life in prison and was told he must serve at least 19 years behind bars before becoming eligible for release.

The trial heard Nguyen had grown jealous in the months leading up to the murder, believing his wife had been unfaithful.

In the hours before she died, he made her access the TfL app to prove her movements.

He claimed to the jury that he had been “controlled by the devil” when he attacked is 45-year-old wife, and had “lost control”.

Detective Inspector Stephanie Dexter said: “Nguyen was a jealous man who carried out a brutal attack on his wife in their own home, the place she should have been safest.”

She added her thoughts remain with the couple’s three children who are grieving the loss of their mother.

Met Police launched an investigation after Nguyen walked into Lewisham Police Station and told officers he had stabbed his wife. He was arrested and charged the following day.

Officers visited the property where they discovered Hien dead in her bedroom, as well as a bloody knife on her bedside drawer.

DI Dexter added: “Our commitment to tackling violence against women and girls is unwavering and we would encourage victims to reach out to police or other support agencies to seek help.

“We will respond with sensitivity, and we will work with you to provide the appropriate support, whilst keeping you safe and dealing robustly with the perpetrator.”