Lewisham Man Guilty: Stabbed Wife to Death 2026

Key Points

• Hai Van Nguyen, 42, of Hatfield Close, Lewisham, southeast London, was found guilty of murdering his wife Hien Thi Vu, 45, a mother of three, at Woolwich Crown Court on 15 December 2025.
• Nguyen stabbed Hien multiple times—reports specify seven stab wounds—with a kitchen knife while she slept in their bedroom on 13 April 2025; one wound caused fatal blood loss.
• Nguyen admitted manslaughter but denied murder, claiming he “lost control” after being “controlled by the devil”; he blamed jealousy over suspected infidelity and a head injury from a motorcycle accident 25 years prior.
• In the hours before the attack around 6am, Nguyen forced Hien to access the TfL app to verify her movements due to suspicions she had a “boyfriend”.
• After the stabbing, Nguyen walked to Lewisham Police Station at 06:52, confessed to officers, and was arrested that day; charged with murder the next day on 14 April 2025.
• Police found Hien dead in the bedroom with the bloody knife on her bedside drawer; a post-mortem confirmed the cause of death.
• Nguyen, speaking via Vietnamese interpreter during the week-long trial, was sentenced on 19 December 2025 to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 19 years.
• Detective Inspector Stephanie Dexter, leading the Met Police investigation, described Nguyen as a “jealous man” who attacked Hien in her safest place, offering thoughts to the three grieving children.
• Judge Andrew Lees noted the children had “lost their loving mother”; Hien’s eldest son read a victim impact statement expressing being “heartbroken, angry, and confused”.​
• Initial charging reported Nguyen as 41; family received support from specialist officers.​

Lewisham (South London News) 16 December 2025 – A man has been convicted of the brutal murder of his wife in their family home, capping a tragic case that shocked the south-east London community. Hai Van Nguyen stands guilty of stabbing Hien Thi Vu to death, as jurors at Woolwich Crown Court rejected his partial admission of responsibility. The verdict underscores ongoing concerns over domestic violence in the capital.​

What Happened on the Night of the Murder?

The incident unfolded in the early hours of 13 April 2025 at the couple’s residence in Hatfield Close, Lewisham—a quiet spot in New Cross Gate area. As reported by crime correspondent Phoebe Fuller of the Evening Standard, Hai Van Nguyen attacked his sleeping wife Hien Thi Vu with a kitchen knife, inflicting seven stab wounds, one proving fatal due to significant blood loss.​

According to Met Police details cited in the same report, officers discovered Hien in the bedroom upon attending the scene, with the bloody weapon left on her bedside drawer. BBC News coverage, by reporter Emily Atkinson, confirms Nguyen stabbed her more than five times around 6:00 AM BST before leaving the property.

As per the Met Police’s official statement, Nguyen had grown increasingly jealous, compelling Hien to open the TfL app hours earlier to account for her whereabouts amid infidelity suspicions.​

Why Did Hai Van Nguyen Attack His Wife?

Jealousy formed the core of Nguyen’s motive, as detailed across multiple outlets. Nguyen told Woolwich Crown Court he believed Hien had a “boyfriend”, with suspicions building over months, per BBC reporting.​

In his testimony, as quoted by the Evening Standard, Nguyen claimed: “controlled by the devil” and had “lost control”. He referenced a head injury from a motorbike crash over 20 years ago, which the jury dismissed in favour of the murder conviction.

Yahoo News echoed this, noting Nguyen’s denial of murder despite admitting manslaughter, attributing the act to overwhelming jealousy.​

How Did Police Become Involved?

Nguyen voluntarily presented himself at Lewisham Police Station shortly after 06:52 on 13 April, confessing directly to officers, according to Informing Britain’s initial update.​

The Met Police launched an immediate investigation; Nguyen was arrested that day and formally charged with murder on 14 April 2025 at Bromley Magistrates’ Court, where he was remanded in custody.

Southwark News reported the conviction on 15 December 2025, aligning with the trial’s conclusion at Woolwich Crown Court.​

What Did the Court Hear During the Trial?

The week-long trial featured Nguyen speaking through a Vietnamese interpreter, as noted by BBC News. Prosecutors outlined the jealousy-driven buildup, including TfL checks, while Nguyen’s defence centred on loss of control.

A jury rejected the manslaughter plea, finding him guilty of murder on 15 December 2025. Sentencing followed on 19 December, with full details emerging in subsequent reports.​

What Was Hai Van Nguyen’s Sentence?

On Friday, 19 December 2025, Judge Andrew Lees at Woolwich Crown Court imposed a life sentence on Nguyen, mandating at least 19 years before parole eligibility. As reported by Inkl News, the judge highlighted the irreplaceable loss to the family.

BBC coverage quotes the judge stating the three children had “lost their loving mother”. This followed the jury’s dismissal of Nguyen’s partial defence.​

Who Was Hien Thi Vu and What Impact Did Her Death Have?

Hien Thi Vu, 45, was a devoted mother of three, her family life shattered in an instant. Met Police’s Detective Inspector Stephanie Dexter, in a statement covered by the Evening Standard, 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.”​

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

In a victim impact statement read at sentencing, Hien’s eldest son expressed profound grief:

“heartbroken, angry, and confused… It still doesn’t feel real that our mum is gone… Mum was the person who held our family together, her absence is felt every day.”​

The family received ongoing support from specially trained officers, as per early police updates.​

What Did Detective Inspector Stephanie Dexter Say?

Leading the investigation, DI Stephanie Dexter provided key insights into the case’s gravity. As quoted in the Evening Standard and Met Police release:

“This is a tragic case and our thoughts remain with the couple’s three children who are grieving for the sudden loss of their mother.”​

She further stated, per the Standard:

“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.”​

How Does This Case Highlight Domestic Violence Issues?

This murder exemplifies the perils of unchecked jealousy in domestic settings, with police reiterating support for victims. The Met’s unwavering stance against violence against women and girls was emphasised by DI Dexter across reports.

Community shock in Lewisham underscores the need for vigilance, as the home—meant to be a sanctuary—became a crime scene. Ongoing family support reflects broader efforts to aid those affected.

The conviction and life sentence serve as a stark reminder of judicial resolve in such cases, ensuring perpetrators face severe consequences.