"Why Did You Hit My Wife?" Friend Murdered 5 Months After Release

28 Violent Convictions... Life Sentence Imposed
Court: "Cannot Improve with Fixed-Term Imprisonment, Must Isolate from Society"

A man in his 60s who killed a friend he happened to meet at a restaurant with a weapon, due to the friend having beaten his wife in the past, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

According to Yonhap News on the 4th, the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 2 (Presiding Judge Lee Young-jin) sentenced A (63), who was indicted on charges including murder, to life imprisonment and ordered him to wear an electronic tracking device (electronic anklet) for 10 years.

A is accused of killing his friend B (63) with a weapon at a restaurant in Geoduri, Dongnae-myeon, Chuncheon-si, Gangwon Province, around 9:30 p.m. on February 14. It was reported that A committed the crime out of anger because B, whom he met by chance at the restaurant, had beaten his wife while A was imprisoned for a special injury crime in 2021. A killed B only five months after being released from prison. A has a criminal record totaling 38 times, of which 28 are for violent offenses.

While A generally admitted to the charges, he denied some facts, claiming, "I did not commit the crime out of malice," but the court did not accept this.

The court pointed out, "At the time of the crime, the defendant continued to attempt attacks on the victim despite being restrained by bystanders, and the victim's child witnessed the tragic situation at the crime scene," adding, "The defendant tried to flee the scene but was stopped by bystanders and arrested by the police, indicating the very serious nature and circumstances of the crime."

It continued, "The defendant committed murder without hesitation just five months after release and shows no sign of remorse," and "His behavior has not improved at all despite a life sentence, and although he appeared remorseful in court, it is difficult to see this as genuine repentance; it seems more like an attempt to evade responsibility."

Regarding the reason for sentencing life imprisonment, the court explained, "The defendant has not been forgiven by the bereaved family, and the victim's children are seeking severe punishment," adding, "We cannot give the defendant an opportunity to reintegrate into society based on vague assumptions that he will not reoffend after serving his sentence."

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