"Husband Hits Wife Crying at Father’s Funeral, Saying 'Why Cry When You Believe in God?'"

14 Violent Convictions... 2-Year Prison Sentence Upheld on Appeal

A man in his 60s who struck his common-law spouse, who was crying over the death of her father, while invoking faith and asking "Why are you crying?" was sentenced to prison again in the appellate court.

The Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Shim Hyun-geun) announced on the 4th that it sentenced Mr. A (68), who was on trial for special injury, special intimidation, injury, and assault charges, to two years in prison, the same as the original sentence.

Mr. A was indicted for hitting Ms. B (68) on the shoulder and arm, saying "Why does a person who believes in God cry?" when she showed tears at the crematorium after her father passed away at their home in Yeongwol-gun in March last year.

In April of the same year, he was also charged with suddenly shouting "I want to kill you whenever I see you" and hitting her during early morning prayer.

Additionally, the indictment included charges that in May 2018, Mr. A hit Ms. B on the head with a picture frame because she refused to register their marriage, assaulted her with his fists, and threatened and intimidated her with a kerosene container.

[Image source=Pixabay]

In the first trial, Mr. A claimed, "My actions were to discipline or soothe the victim."

However, the first trial court judged, "This cannot be seen as discipline or soothing." It also considered Mr. A's history of 14 prior punishments for violent crimes such as attempted murder and hostage-taking, as well as the victim's plea for severe punishment, and sentenced him to prison.

The appellate court, reviewing Mr. A's claim that "the sentence is too heavy," dismissed the appeal, stating, "Since the original sentence was handed down, no new mitigating circumstances or special changes in circumstances that would affect sentencing have been found."

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