"Neighbor's Tree Blocks Solar Panels"...40-Year-Old Sentenced to 26 Years for Killing Neighbor

Attacker Wields Weapon at Victim's Wife Who Tried to Stop Crime
Court Rules "Not Insane Despite Intoxication"

A man in his 40s who brutally murdered a neighbor with whom he had ongoing conflicts over a peach tree blocking the solar panels installed on his own roof was sentenced to a heavy prison term.

According to Yonhap News on the 2nd, the Uijeongbu District Court Criminal Division 11 (Chief Judge Jo Young-gi) announced that it sentenced a man in his 40s, identified as A, who was detained and prosecuted on charges of murder and special injury, to 26 years in prison. The court also ordered A to wear an electronic tracking device (electronic anklet) for 10 years.

A was tried on charges of stabbing his neighbor, a man in his 70s identified as B, multiple times with a weapon and killing him at a detached house in Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon Province, at around 6:38 p.m. on April 3. He also attacked B’s wife, C, who tried to intervene, causing injuries requiring six weeks of medical treatment. Additionally, he is accused of fleeing in a K5 sedan while his blood alcohol concentration exceeded the license cancellation threshold (0.08%), measuring 0.10% at the time.

Uijeongbu District Court Photo by Yonhap News

A had been dissatisfied for several years before the incident because the solar panels on his roof were not properly charged due to being blocked by the peach tree in B’s field. On the day of the crime, a drunken A approached B, who was working in the field, verbally abused him, and demanded that he cut down the tree. When B left the scene, A became enraged and committed the crime, according to the investigation.

A claimed that he was intoxicated and mentally impaired at the time of the crime, but the court did not accept this. The court pointed out, "The defendant brutally murdered the victim, and the nature of the crime is very serious." It added, "Although the defendant claims mental impairment due to intoxication at the time of the incident, considering various circumstances, it cannot be seen that he lacked the capacity to make decisions at that time." The court also explained, "The mental shock and pain experienced by C, who witnessed her spouse being murdered, are immeasurable." Regarding the sentencing, the court stated, "However, we considered the fact that there had been conflicts with B for several years and that the defendant admitted the crime and showed remorse."

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