A court in the southern province of Soc Trang on Monday handed down a 17-year prison sentence to a 57-year-old man for killing his wife during a compulsory counseling session in January.

Ly Van Chien was convicted of murder for fatally stabbing his wife Nguyen Bich Hop, 50.

According to the indictment, Hop had filed for divorce at a district court.

On January 15, 2016, the couple was invited to the court for a counseling session, a required step where court officials try to help people reconcile and save their marriage before ruling on their divorce request. 

Chien reportedly pulled out a knife and stabbed his wife several times after the counseling failed to change his wife's mind.

A female judge attempted to stop him to no avail. Others rushed in to restrain him.

Hop was rushed to hospital but she had died to loss of blood.

It is unclear how the man managed to bring the knife into the session.