"The son who killed his elderly mother in her 80s, deluded into thinking a cockroach was his parent"

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[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A man in his 40s who, deluded into believing that cockroaches were impersonating his parents, repeatedly stepped on and killed his elderly mother in her 80s and attempted to kill his father in his 70s but failed, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

On the 19th, the 11th Criminal Division of Daegu District Court (Chief Judge Lee Sang-oh) announced that it sentenced Mr. A (48), who was indicted on charges including parricide, to 10 years in prison and ordered treatment detention and the attachment of an electronic tracking device for 10 years.

The court stated the sentencing reasons, saying, "It appears that the crime was committed while the defendant was in a state of diminished capacity to distinguish objects or make decisions due to mental illness," but also added, "Considering the nature of the crime as unfilial and brutal, the severe harm suffered by the victims requiring strict punishment, and the bereaved family's plea for harsh sentencing."

Mr. A was tried on charges of killing his mother, Ms. B (81), by repeatedly stepping on her with hiking boots while she was sitting on the bed around 5 a.m. on March 13, and attempting to kill his father, Mr. C (75), by stepping on him but failing.

Mr. A, who had a prior record of punishment for methamphetamine use, was found to have committed the crime under the delusion that cockroaches had taken over the bodies of his already deceased parents about three years ago and were pretending as if his parents were still alive.

Investigations revealed that Mr. A had been suffering from mental illness for some time. He exhibited auditory hallucinations, claiming that the National Intelligence Service or U.S. intelligence agencies were issuing commands through radio waves, and was known to be deluded that these entities were occupying his body and controlling his actions.

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