UMVA has learned that a married couple has been found guilty in a shocking case that began with a dispute over barbecue fumes and ended in the brutal slaying of a filmmaker.
Khoa Tran, 36, and his wife Isabelle Nguyen, 30, were convicted late Wednesday, with Tran facing a second-degree murder charge and Nguyen guilty of accessory to murder and committing an indignity to a body. The verdict was delivered at approximately 8:30 p.m.
The case centered around the death of Reeyaz Habib, 55, a Liberty Village filmmaker whose decomposing remains were discovered by a garbage man on June 8, 2023, inside his condo complex's trash compactor. Habib's body was wrapped in a bundle of towels and blankets, secured with duct tape, and accompanied by two ominous notes warning of its weight and potential hazards.
Court proceedings revealed that Tran and Habib initially had a friendly relationship, often chatting and sharing beers at their complex. However, their rapport deteriorated over time, with Habib frequently complaining about the fumes emanating from Tran's barbecue.
Tran testified that on June 6, 2023, he heard screams and a struggle from Habib's unit, followed by the sound of someone falling down the stairs. Despite this, he claimed to have done nothing, instead choosing to focus on his work as a software developer.
Further testimony revealed that Tran had a history of dishonesty, including telling a roommate that Habib was simply making a movie, and allegedly lying about exiting Habib's unit on June 7, 2023. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 9, with Tran facing an automatic life sentence and Nguyen's lawyers proposing a prison term of 18 months to six years.
The couple's bail has been revoked, and they now await their fate. The gruesome nature of Habib's death and the couple's calculated actions have sent shockwaves through the community, leaving many to wonder how such a heinous crime could have occurred.
