"Why Won't You Reconcile?" Furious 50s Man Sets Fire to Wife... Sentenced to 6 Years in Prison

Wife Murder Sentencing
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[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] A man in his 50s who doused his estranged wife with gasoline and caused full-body burns after she rejected his request for reconciliation was sentenced to six years in prison.

On the 5th, the 12th Criminal Division of Daegu District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Jin-gwan) ordered A (53) to wear an electronic tracking device for 10 years and sentenced him to six years in prison on charges including attempted murder.

A was indicted for attempting to kill his spouse B (48) by pouring gasoline on her head and setting it on fire around 9:44 p.m. on May 31 last year.

He was also charged with violating a court order prohibiting him from approaching within 100 meters of the victim’s residence and workplace (violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Domestic Violence Crimes) and with special threats for taking out a water bottle containing gasoline, spraying it on a blanket, and threatening harm.

Earlier, A had assaulted his wife by hitting her head and forehead last year, resulting in a fine, a 100-meter restraining order, and victim protection orders prohibiting video and text transmissions via wired and wireless means. Subsequently, the wife moved with their son and was preparing for a divorce lawsuit.

Then A visited B, saying he did not want a divorce. During his demand for reconciliation, he threatened to set fire using gasoline, and when his wife refused, he set her body on fire, saying, "Let's die together."

The court stated, "A stalked his estranged spouse to find her residence, prepared the tools for the crime in advance, violated the court’s order prohibiting approach, and followed the victim home, leading to the crime." It added, "The victim suffered severe burns, including second- and third-degree burns and full-body burns, making it difficult to determine the exact treatment period."

It continued, "The victims suffer not only physical pain but also significant mental trauma due to such a brutal crime occurring within the family. During the investigation, A criticized his wife’s usual behavior and denied the crime, showing no remorse."

However, the court also considered "the fact that A reached an amicable agreement with the victims and expressed that they did not want punishment, as well as circumstances showing that he had been supporting the family diligently as the head of the household," explaining the reasons for sentencing.

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