Son Who Threw Soju Bottle While Drunk Holding Hammer Found 'Not Guilty'... Elderly Mother Defended Him

Mother States "It Was Not Threatening or Violent"
Court Rules Actions Were Unintentional and Acquits

A man in his 60s who caused a disturbance by wielding a hammer and throwing soju bottles at his elderly mother after drinking was acquitted. The court placed greater weight on the maternal affection of the mother in her 80s who defended her son.

On the 9th, the 15th Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Hojung) announced that it had acquitted A (63), who was indicted on charges of habitual threats and habitual assault against a senior family member under the Act on the Punishment of Violent Acts.

On the evening of May 7 last year, around 9 p.m., A caused a disturbance at home while intoxicated. When his mother B (83) told him to "go to bed quickly," A took a hammer out of the living room drawer and shouted, "I will kill myself."

In October of the same year, at 9 a.m., after drinking, when B said, "Drinking again so early in the morning?" A threw 3 to 4 soju bottles outside the front door.

The prosecution judged the abusive and disruptive behavior as threats and the act of throwing soju bottles as assault, and brought A to trial. A also had a criminal record with several prison sentences for previous assault charges.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

However, A denied all charges in court. He claimed, "I was assaulted by someone else in the past, and when I drank, that incident came to mind," adding, "Wielding the hammer was an act of venting frustration, not threatening my mother." He also said, "I did not throw the soju bottles at my mother."

B, who appeared in court as the victim, also defended her son. She testified that her son's behavior was not threatening at the time.

During the investigation by authorities, B reportedly stated, "My son is usually like that," and "So I thought, 'He's drinking and acting like this again,' and I held back my anger."

Accordingly, the court ruled, "B testified that she was not frightened by the defendant's actions but rather was angry, and the defendant did not swing the hammer toward B," and acquitted A. The court judged that there was no intent of threat or assault in A's actions. The court added, "The abusive language was merely a temporary expression of anger, and wielding the hammer was not an act intended to threaten the mother," and stated, "The evidence submitted by the prosecution is insufficient to recognize the charges."

Regarding the throwing of soju bottles, the court also stated, "B testified that 'my son threw the soju bottles outside the front door but did not throw them at me,'" and concluded, "It is difficult to recognize the act of throwing soju bottles outside the front door, away from B, as assault."

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