'Because of Money' 40s Man Who Killed Girlfriend Appeals, Original Sentence of 28 Years Imprisonment Upheld

"Relatives Petition for Severe Punishment... Fraud Crime Damages Not Recovered"

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Jin-hyung] A man in his 40s who killed his girlfriend after she pressured him to "pay back the borrowed money" and concealed the body was sentenced to the same prison term in the appellate court as in the first trial.

The 1st Criminal Division of the Gwangju High Court (Presiding Judge Lee Seung-cheol) dismissed the appeals from both the defendant and the prosecution, who claimed the sentencing was unfair, at the second trial on the 15th for A (48), who was charged with murder and concealment of a corpse, and upheld the original sentence of 28 years in prison and 3 years of probation.

A was tried on charges of killing his girlfriend after an argument over her demand to "repay the 27 million won borrowed from her mother."

He lured his girlfriend to Seonsan under the pretense of repaying the debt, and after a quarrel, struck her head with a wooden club, causing her death, then dug a pit and buried the body to conceal it.

After the crime, he also deceived the victim’s mother by saying, "I gave money to my girlfriend, but she took it and went to Busan for a break."

He is also charged with fraud for acquiring financial benefits amounting to 170 million won from a total of four people, including the victim’s mother.

It was reported that most of the money borrowed from B’s mother and others was used for gambling funds.

The court stated the sentencing rationale, saying, "The nature of the crime is very bad, and the consequences are extremely serious," and "The bereaved family is pleading for severe punishment, and most of the fraud damages have not been recovered."

However, the court ruled, "It does not appear that the murder was premeditated, and it seems to have been committed somewhat impulsively in the heat of an argument," and "It is difficult to conclude that there is no possibility of rehabilitation to the extent that permanent isolation from society is necessary, so the prosecution’s claims are not accepted."

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