A court in northern Vietnam on Tuesday began the trial of a 17-year-old boy who confessed to killing three people in a robbery to get money to play online games.

Le Van Luyen was arrested in August, one week after he allegedly killed a 37-year-old man, his wife and 19-month-old daughter, and cut off the hand of the couple's 9-year-old daughter.

He has confessed to attacking the shopowner and his family with a knife at the couple's gold shop in Bac Giang province, taking jewellery and gold worth around 100,000 dollars.

Luyen is charged with murder, robbery and abusing trust in order to appropriate property.

He has said he needed the money to play Kiem The, a violent online video game.

Luyen faces up to 18 years if convicted.

Online games have received negative media coverage in Vietnam, with many reports linking them with violent crime.

In March, the government attempted to ban online gaming from 10 pm to 8 am but many internet cafes continue business behind closed doors.

The trial was scheduled to end on Wednesday.Author: Pham Bac