Nanny sentenced to life for fatally beating baby in HCMC

Vo Thi My Linh, 31, was convicted of “murder” by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court and also ordered to pay nearly VND500 million (US$20,200) in compensation to the victim’s family.
According to the indictment, Linh had offered childcare services at her home in Binh Tan District after becoming unemployed, advertising her services on Facebook.
In early January 2023, a couple entrusted their six-month-old son to Linh’s care. On Jan. 10, 2023, while changing the baby’s diaper, Linh became angry when the baby continued to cry and struck him several times on the head. Later, when the baby spat out his formula milk, she struck him again, causing him to sob.
Noticing the baby’s unusual symptoms, Linh called the mother to falsely inform that the child had fallen from a hammock. As the baby’s condition worsened and he turned blue, Linh panicked and called the family, urging them to rush him to hospital.
The following day, the baby’s father, suspecting that his child had been beaten, reported the incident to the police. During the investigation, Linh confessed to the crime.
The baby underwent surgery for a brain hemorrhage and received intensive treatment but remained in critical condition, deep comatose, with nearly complete brain damage. After seven months of treatment, the baby died in August 2023.
The court noted that Linh’s actions were extremely dangerous, involving a vulnerable victim who was dependent on her care. Although Linh had some mitigating factors, such as a sincere confession and previously good character, the severe consequences of her actions justified a harsh sentence.
During the trial, Linh acknowledged knowing that the top of the child’s head was still soft and not fully developed, but claimed that in a moment of extreme anger, she lost control and acted wrongly.
“I deeply regret my actions,” Linh said, adding that she lacked basic knowledge of childcare and was not licensed by authorities for the job.
A doctor from the HCMC Children’s Hospital, where the victim was treated, testified that the baby arrived at the hospital in a state of clinical death and did not survive despite treatment. A forensic expert also testified that Linh’s actions—striking the baby on the head—likely caused the brain injury that led to the child’s death.

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