30s Husband Who Killed Drunken Wife by Beating Receives Reduced Sentence

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Seul-gi] A man in his 30s who assaulted his wife while she was asleep drunk, causing her death, received a reduced sentence in the appellate court.

On the 10th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 7 (Presiding Judge Lee Gyun-yong) overturned the original 10-year prison sentence and sentenced Lee Mo (36), who was tried on murder charges, to 7 years in prison.

The court stated the sentencing reason: "While it is acknowledged that the victim was caused to die, it is difficult to recognize the intent to murder, so the defendant is acquitted of the murder charge. Accordingly, the charge was applied as injury resulting in death."

Lee was indicted for assaulting his wife A (40), who showed signs of alcoholism and was heavily intoxicated and asleep, multiple times in the abdomen after returning home drunk on February 7 last year, causing her death.

It was revealed that Lee frequently assaulted his wife when she was intoxicated, as she showed symptoms of alcoholism.

The first trial court acknowledged, "He earned living expenses by working multiple part-time jobs in place of his wife, who was unable to work, and made efforts to continue their married life by frequently taking his wife to the hospital to treat her drinking habits."

However, regarding Lee's claim that he did not assault his wife with the intent to kill from the beginning, the court said, "Murder charges do not necessarily require the purpose or intent to kill, and it is reasonable to see that the defendant committed the crime while at least implicitly recognizing that the victim could die from the assault," and sentenced him to 10 years in prison.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.