Police officers examine the scene at Kinloch Crescent in Bruce in October 2023. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
The man accused of stabbing his partner to death in northern Canberra has admitted murdering her on the week he had originally been scheduled to face a trial.
Van Thanh Vu was accused of killing 65-year-old Thi Thuy Huong Nguyen at a home in Kinloch Crescent, Bruce, on 23 October 2023.
He originally pleaded not guilty and had been scheduled to face a trial in the ACT Supreme Court this week, but on Tuesday (27 May), he instead admitted murdering her.
“I plead guilty,” he said via a Vietnamese interpreter.
The 72-year-old had entered the courtroom using a walking frame and smiled and nodded at his lawyer, telling her, “Good morning”.
On the day of the incident, Ms Nguyen had been pronounced dead at the scene while Vu was allegedly found with injuries to his wrists before he was taken to hospital.
The court previously heard that his lawyers had explored a defence of mental impairment.
On Tuesday, prosecutor Trent Hickey said both prosecutors and defence lawyers had obtained reports from psychiatrists. He anticipated the defence would seek an additional report from their psychiatrist for the sentencing process.
The prosecutor also said the lawyers were in the process of settling the facts in the case.
Justice Belinda Baker said sentencing would begin on 20 October.
Vu has been in custody since his arrest after the murder.
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