Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
Dec. 11, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Judge Jalilah Otto denied a motion of a bond reduction for Thu Hong Nguyen, keeping her bond at $2 million cash.

On Friday, Dec. 11, during a hearing for a bond reduction, Nguyen’s lawyer, William Shull Jr., requested a reduction to $100,000 with a 10 percent posting. Nguyen has been charged with one count of first-degree arson, a class A felony; and two counts of second-degree murder because the two firefighters died as a result of the arson, each also a class A felony. Two firefighters, Larry Leggio and John Mesh, died as a result of the fire. She has pleaded not guilty. The court provided a Vietnamese interpreter to assist Nguyen while in court.

Before the motion was denied, Shull noted Nguyen was not a flight risk, isn’t a risk to the community nor does she have a criminal history. Shull also pointed out — after a statement read by KCFD Chief Paul Berardi — that the trial is becoming too emotionally, and not factually, based.

However, Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker pointed out to Judge Otto that Nguyen has lived in four states within the past 10 years and that her home country of Vietnam does not have an extradition treaty with the United States.

“We are so opposed to a bond reduction because she sits here for their [Mesh and Leggio] murders,” Baker told the judge.

Three witnesses were called at last week’s hearing, two for the defense and one for the state. Before announcing her decision, Judge Otto noted that although there is no past criminal record for Nguyen, she didn’t see the strong community ties the defense presented.