Three jailed for drug gang death

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Three drug gang members found guilty of killing a man have been jailed for a total of 23 years

Three drug gang members found guilty of killing a man, who was beaten and dumped at a south Wales hospital, have been jailed for a total of 23 years.

Vietnamese gang leader Quynh Van Huynh, 51, was jailed for nine years at Cardiff Crown Court.

Thanh Van Le, 31, Cong Van Le, 48, were each jailed for seven years for the manslaughter of illegal immigrant Tran Nguyen in Newport.

The judge said it was a gangland punishment which had gone too far.

The sentences follow a four-month trial, in which the men had denied murder but were convicted of manslaughter.

Mr Nguyen was left in A&E at the Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, in November 2006.

Tran Nguyen was killed by members of gang running a cannabis factory

The jury had been told that he was suspected of taking part in a raid by rivals on a cannabis factory in Newport.

Mr Nguyen, 44, a father-of-two, had been smuggled from Vietnam into the UK in the back of a lorry.

He was housed in London before being sent to Birmingham to work in a nail bar.

He was then sent on to a cannabis factory in Keynsham Avenue, Newport, where he became a lone farmer, known as a "ghost".

But within a couple of months he was suspected in being involved in a robbery at the factory.

Mr Nguyen was taken to London where he was beaten, before he was taken back to south Wales, and dumped at the Royal Gwent hospital, unconscious and unresponsive.

The judge Mr Justice McKinnon said that this was a gangland punishment beating that went too far.

The victim's widow said she had been devastated by her husband's death.

She now feared for the safety of herself and their two children.

The court was also told that the couple's son had been offered a university place, but had had to stay at home to help his mother support the family.

Gwent Police have also issued warrants for the arrest of another man Tu Minh Le, who fled to Vietnam, but officers have been unable to extradite him.

Three other men were acquitted of all charges.