Tong Vuong and Yu Ying Juan sentenced over Dai Hai Lam’s death in St Albans

A confrontation over stolen drugs in Melbourne turned deadly, with two remorseless attackers now at risk of deportation for their role in the fatal incident.

Tong Vuong and Yu Ying Juan were among a group that confronted Dai Hai Lam over a drug robbery, before Mr Lam was fatally stabbed. Picture: iStock

A revenge-fueled confrontation over stolen drugs in Melbourne’s west took a deadly turn, landing two remorseless Vietnamese nationals at risk of deportation despite neither striking the fatal blow.

Tong Vuong, 36, and Yu Ying Juan, 48, were sentenced at the Supreme Court on Friday to a minimum of six and a half years and five and a half years jail respectively after a jury found the pair guilty of manslaughter over the death of father of four Dai Hai Lam at a St Albans apartment in July 2022.

The pair was in a group of five that confronted Mr Lam — whom they believed was responsible for stealing $70,000 worth of heroin from Juan’s Thomastown home a week earlier — before things got out of hand.

Both appeared in person in court on Friday next to interpreters, with Vuong wearing a grey jumper and Juan a floral top.

They have both spent more than 800 days in pre-sentence custody.

Forensic police at the scene where Dai Hai Lam was killed in July 2022. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The court heard Juan held a taser during the confrontation while Vuong “scuffled” with Mr Lam and held him against a wall, as well as brandishing a samurai sword.

Mr Lam was then stabbed about five times by an unknown offender before he was dragged out onto the nature strip where he bled to death.

The court found neither Vuong or Juan stabbed Mr Lam.

Juan then tried to flee the scene in her car before she was stopped and questioned by police, while Vuong attempted to “clean up” inside and hid under a bed.

During police interviews the court heard Vuong gave police a false account of what occurred, going so far as making up a “fictitious character” whom he pinned the blame on.

The court heard both have maintained their innocence throughout the trial, showing “no remorse”.

The jury’s guilty verdict came despite the prosecution’s chief witness Nicholas Peng described as “dishonest” and providing “unsatisfactory evidence”.

Mr Lam was found dead on the nature strip outside a St Albans apartment in July 2022. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Justice John Champion concluded that while Vuong and Juan did not stab Lam they were “complicit” in the incident.

“I am unable to conclude as to who stabbed Mr Lam ... there is no evidence you stabbed him or knew it would happen,” His Honour said.

“He was greeted with an array of weapons … however it appears things took an unexpected turn which led to the fateful events of him being stabbed five times by someone who has not been identified.

“You arranged to confront him with others and you must have both considered that things could get out of control, which it did.

“You are both similarly morally culpable by carrying out that plan.”

A victim impact statement written by Mr Lam’s sister Cindy outlined the “profound impact” the death of her brother has had on the family.

Vuong received a maximum jail sentence of nine years and Juan a top of eight years, with both a risk of deportation as a result of a prison sentence greater than 12 months.