AC-2025-LON-000643 - [2025] EWHC 2024 (Admin)

The index offence was described thus in Part A of the Recall Report, drafted by the Probation Service, and dated 15 January 2025:

“Mr Nguyen was sentenced at the Central Criminal Court on 30/10/2006 for the offence of Murder and received a Life sentence, with a tariff length of 14 years. Mr Nguyen murdered Mr Billy Gregory, 23, of Charlton, South-East London, he died on Christmas Day 2005 after being glassed at a pub in Woolwich the night before.

On Friday 23rd December the victim, Mr Billy Gregory, went out with friends for a Christmas drink. Whilst at The Earl of Chatham public house on Thomas Street, Woolwich, Mr Gregory and his friends went into the toilet, where one of the friends has seen Mr Nguyen holding a pint glass, he turned back around when he heard the sound of breaking glass. He saw Mr Gregory leaning on Mr Nguyen and stated there was a large amount of blood over the walls. They went outside at which point the door staff appeared and dealt with the situation, and carried Mr Gregory out to the front of the pub. Another witness saw the incident in the toilets and reported Mr Nguyen was using the urinal when Mr Gregory bumped into him, words were exchanged between them before Mr Nguyen struck Mr Gregory in the face with a glass.

Police and Ambulance Service were called, and Mr Gregory was taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Mr Nguyen, who had also sustained injuries was arrested at the scene and taken to Lewisham Hospital where he was treated for his injuries before being conveyed to Plumstead Police Station. The initial prognosis of Mr Gregory’s injuries were, that they were not life threatening, however, at 11.45am on 25/12/2005 Mr Gregory died from his injuries.

The previous OASys (2015) also notes the following details: The Court heard how Mr Gregory had been drinking with friends in the Earl of Chatham pub when he found himself at the bar next to Mr Nguyen. Simon Denison, prosecuting, told the Court: "Something happened which caused Billy to react." He said that a short time later the two men came across each other in the men's toilets and again something "brief and trivial" happened. "Out of the blue, the defendant suddenly and deliberately thrust his glass into Billy's neck," Mr Denison said. Mr Gregory used his shirt to try to stem the flow of blood from a deep neck wound but he collapsed and later suffered a massive stroke.

Mr Nguyen's account of the incident is similar to that stated above however it did diverge slightly from the initial statements. Mr Nguyen stated that the initial altercation at the bar was as a result of him backing into Mr Gregory who had occupied a seat at the bar that Mr Nguyen had just vacated. He explained that the victim responded in an aggressive manner and words were exchanged. He explained that he offered Mr Gregory a drink to diffuse the situation, to which the victim Mr Gregory rudely declined by stating that he 'was not a tramp.' Mr Nguyen explained that he walked away from the situation and eventually proceeded to the men's bathroom with his pint glass in hand. He recounted placing the pint glass on the urinal, whilst he relieved himself.

According to Mr Nguyen the victim entered the bathroom with two other individuals and proceeded to 'bang' into him, Mr Nguyen described feeling threatened and explained that he retaliated in self-defence by striking the victim with the pint glass, he maintains that it was not his intention to cause the death of the victim.” (emphasis added)

The trigger for the crime was identified as follows:

“It appears that the trigger behind the offence was in relation to being provoked or threatened. At the time of the offence, Mr Nguyen explained feeling threatened by the victim and his friends who had entered the toilet together. Accounts of the incident suggest that My Nguyen was unable to manage his behaviour and reacted instinctively, which resulted in him attacking the victim. Further identified triggers which contributed to his loss of temper, aggression and impulsive behaviour include alcohol misuse having admitted to having 5-6 pints of lager prior to the incident.” (emphasis added)