Wife Drives Car into Reservoir During Argument with Husband... Suspended Sentence for Murder Confirmed in Second Trial

Court: "Recognition of Conditional Intent in Murder"

A woman in her 60s was sentenced to probation in the second trial for intentionally causing a car accident and killing her husband during an argument.

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] A woman in her 60s who drove a vehicle she was riding in with her husband into a reservoir during an argument, causing her husband's death, was sentenced to probation again in the second trial.

The Criminal Division 3 of Suwon High Court (Chief Judge Kim Seong-su) announced on the 27th that in the appeal trial of A (60), who is charged with murder, the same sentence as the first trial was handed down: 3 years in prison with 5 years of probation.

On February 11, 2018, at around 9:56 p.m., A got into an argument with her husband B inside a sports utility vehicle (SUV) parked near a reservoir in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. In anger, she drove the vehicle into the reservoir, and the vehicle overturned and submerged. At that time, A escaped from the vehicle, but B, who had a broken cervical vertebra and was paralyzed, could not escape and drowned.

Investigations revealed that A committed the crime out of anger toward B, who suspected her of infidelity.

The second trial court stated, "The front and rear black box footage of the vehicle at the time does not show any attempt to steer to avoid falling into the reservoir, making it difficult to believe the defendant's statement that she manipulated the steering device to move the vehicle in another direction," and ruled that "the original court's judgment recognizing the presence of implied intent to kill is appropriate."

Previously, the first trial court judged, "At the time of the incident, the defendant was emotionally agitated, repeatedly telling the victim to 'just die,' and objective evidence such as black box footage shows that the defendant did not try to stop or hesitate before falling into the reservoir but rather accelerated the vehicle abruptly."

However, the court explained the sentencing reasons, stating, "The defendant had maintained a harmonious marriage with the victim for over 30 years and did not decide to commit the crime out of resentment or economic motives," and "she committed the crime in a moment of intense emotion, suffered severe mental shock herself, and considering that the bereaved family does not wish for punishment."

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