Delivery driver who pushed resident after being insulted, causing death, sentenced to 2 years in prison with 3 years probation

Holding Elevator for 6 Minutes to Deliver Goods
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A delivery worker who pushed a resident, who had cursed at him for holding the apartment elevator for a long time, causing the resident's death, was sentenced to two years in prison with a three-year probation.

A delivery worker who pushed a resident, who had cursed at him for holding the apartment elevator for too long, causing the resident's death, was sentenced to prison with a suspended sentence.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

The Busan District Court Criminal Division 6 (Chief Judge Kim Tae-eop) announced on the 4th that it handed down this sentence to delivery worker A, who was detained and indicted on charges of injury resulting in death. The court also ordered 80 hours of community service.

A was tried on charges of pushing B (in his 50s) on January 10th in an apartment elevator in Yeonje-gu, Busan, causing B's death. At the time, A was known to have been delivering packages to multiple households in a corridor-style apartment by wedging delivery boxes in the elevator door and running around.

A moved across several floors and completed deliveries within six minutes, then boarded the elevator to go to a lower floor. B boarded the elevator on a middle floor, kicked the delivery cart, and cursed. B was reportedly intoxicated and had been waiting for the elevator for a long time.

Angered, A pushed B's shoulder, causing B to fall to the floor and hit his head hard. Alarmed, A immediately called 119 and performed CPR. B was taken to the hospital and underwent two brain surgeries, but his condition did not improve, and he eventually died five days later from traumatic subdural hemorrhage.

In court, A stated, "I used violence to resist unfair treatment, and the victim also bears responsibility," adding, "Since a precious life was lost because of me, I will live with lifelong remorse."

The deceased B was reportedly involved in multiple conflicts with neighbors, delivery workers, and couriers. Residents submitted petitions to the court asking for leniency, and A is said to have visited the funeral home and reached an amicable agreement with the bereaved family.

In this trial held as a citizen participation trial, all seven jurors found A guilty and agreed that injury resulting in death was established.

The court ruled, "The defendant is found guilty for forcefully pushing the shoulder, which led to death," and "considered the defendant's two prior convictions for insult as an unfavorable factor."

It further explained, "The defendant has expressed full remorse for the crime's outcome, and it is difficult to believe that he anticipated B would hit his head on the floor and be injured," adding, "The defendant reported the incident to 119 immediately after the crime, reached an agreement with the bereaved family, and the sentence was determined respecting the jurors' recommendation for probation."

Meanwhile, A, who had been detained for five months during the trial, was released following the probation sentence.

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