Wake Forest, North Carolina.64-year-old Xuan Thanh Pham entered a guilty plea to second-degree murder and was sentenced to up to 20 years in prison, more than a year after a violent domestic incident that killed his wife and seriously injured him.
The News & Observer reports that on February 5, Pham acknowledged in court that he killed his wife, Hue Thi Lu o ng, 58, on September 5, 2023. In what seemed to be a murder-suicide attempt, prosecutors said that Pham repeatedly stabbed Lu ong inside their Wake Forest home before turning the knife on himself.
Plea Deal Reduces Sentence
Judge Bryan Collins of Wake County Superior Court sentenced Pham to a minimum of 16 years and a maximum of 20 years and three months in prison as part of a negotiated plea deal. A conviction might have resulted in a more severe punishment in the absence of the plea agreement.
According to court records, Pham will also receive mental health assessments and substance addiction treatment while behind bars. His time in prison was cut by more than a year when he was given credit for the 508 days he had previously spent there.
Emotional Courtroom Scene
Pham, who had been hospitalized with potentially fatal injuries following the attack, cried aloud during a prior court appearance on September 16, 2023, raising his hands to the ceiling before covering his face. As officers led him out of the courthouse, he allegedly conversed with relatives in Vietnamese.
Authorities have not disclosed many specifics regarding the circumstances that may have led to the fatal altercation, and no obituary for Lu o ng could be found.
Larger Domestic Violence Context
The murder contributes to North Carolina’s alarming domestic violence statistics. The N.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence reports that in 2023, the state saw 23 suicides and 74 killings connected to domestic abuse.
The instance, according to advocates, emphasizes how urgently resources and action are needed in potentially hazardous domestic situations before they become fatal.
Current Status
Online state jail records show that Pham is currently incarcerated at Central jail in Raleigh. He has already served time, so if he complies with parole and good behavior standards, he might be released in a little more than 15 years.
Communities throughout North Carolina are impacted by domestic violence. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or visitthehotline.org if you or someone you know is in danger. Leave a comment at SaltudaStandard-Sentinel.com with your ideas on how local systems might help prevent tragedies like these.
