Mai allegedly persuaded Ut to go with him on his bike to a jackfruit garden nearby, raped her, and strangled her to death with her pants. Five days later, he was arrested and gave a full confession.

 

In 2005, Mai stood the first trial in Binh Phuoc and was found guilty and sentenced to death. Later the same year, the supreme court upheld the verdict.

 

However, Mai and his family maintained his innocence and claimed that his confession was coerced by the police. 

 

The People’s Supreme Procuracy stepped in and called for a retrial, citing many mistakes made by provincial investigators.

 

In May 2007 the People’s Supreme Court in HCMC canceled the verdicts of the first and second trials and called for further investigations.

 

Binh Phuoc’s People’s Court on May 24 held a trial that acquitted Mai of rape and murder due to the lack of evidence.