"40-Year-Old Man Who Attempted Suicide After Killing 5-Year-Old Son 'Due to Gambling Debt' Receives Increased Sentence in Appeal Trial"

Court: "Killing while neglecting duty to raise biological son, motive is just an excuse"

A man in his 40s who killed his 5-year-old son and attempted suicide out of despair over gambling debts was sentenced to 15 years in prison in the appellate trial.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] A man in his 40s who, plagued by gambling debts exceeding 100 million won, killed his 5-year-old son and attempted suicide, was sentenced to a harsher penalty in the appellate court than in the first trial on charges of murder.

The Daejeon High Court's 1st Criminal Division (Presiding Judge Baek Seungyeop) overturned the original sentence of 12 years imprisonment and sentenced A (43) to 15 years in prison on the 3rd. The court also ordered a 5-year employment ban at child-related institutions. However, the probation and electronic monitoring orders requested by the prosecution were dismissed.

The court stated, "The fact that he must live with the pain of having killed his beloved son is a mitigating factor," but added, "However, he abandoned the duty to protect and raise his biological son above all else and committed murder, and the motive for the crime is nothing but an excuse."

It continued, "The crime originated from the mistaken belief that the child was his possession," and "It is presumed that the bereaved family will have to endure lifelong pain and sorrow, and since the biological mother desires punishment, strict punishment commensurate with the crime is inevitable."

A was brought to trial on charges of suffocating and killing his son B (5), who was sleeping, at an apartment in Asan-si, Chungnam, on May 23.

A, who was addicted to online gambling, accumulated debts of 150 million won, eventually divorced his wife, and was known to have frequently contemplated suicide due to despair over his situation. However, it was investigated that he committed the murder because he thought his son would suffer if he took his own life.

He reportedly attempted suicide after the murder but failed.

Accordingly, the first trial court sentenced him to 12 years in prison, stating, "Although parents do not have the right to decide the life or death of their children, it appears that he committed the crime impulsively, overwhelmed by extreme guilt and depression as his entire life collapsed."

However, both A and the prosecution filed appeals against the first trial verdict.

In the appellate trial, the prosecution demanded life imprisonment, stating, "Since he could not raise the child himself, he decided that death was better and defined the precious child's life as one of suffering and frustration at the defendant's discretion."

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