"Because of You, Prison Time and Death Threats" Ex-convict with 26 Prior Convictions Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Retaliatory Murder After Release

Threatened 17 Times to Confess False Report
Court: "Must Be Permanently Isolated from Society"

The court sentenced a man in his 70s to life imprisonment for retaliatory murder after he was released from prison and sought out the person who reported him. To the perpetrator, who repeatedly claimed "I am innocent" even in court, the court stated, "The anger expressed from the defendant's distorted disposition cannot be socially tolerated."

The Criminal Division 6 of the Busan District Court (Chief Judge Kim Tae-eop) announced on the 15th that it sentenced A (70) to life imprisonment for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (retaliatory murder, etc.) and attempted murder, and ordered the attachment of an electronic tracking device for 10 years.

A is accused of pulling out a weapon during an argument with a man in his 50s, B, at Busan Station Square on June 8 and stabbing B multiple times in the face and neck, killing him. A is also accused of swinging the weapon at C, who tried to stop the fight, attempting to kill him, but only attempted murder.

[Photo by Pixabay]

Previously, A was sentenced to two years in prison in September 2019 for causing special injury to B and served his sentence. He felt wronged, claiming that B had falsely reported him, causing him to be wrongfully imprisoned, and planned retaliation. From August 2021, he repeatedly threatened B with texts saying, "If you don't surrender, you will die by my hand," sending a total of 17 messages.

On the day of the incident, A met B again, forced him to surrender, and when B refused, he pulled out a weapon and brutally killed him.

During the investigation, A claimed he had no intent to kill, but the prosecution proved intent by revealing that he had sent threatening texts to B saying "I will kill you" two months before the crime and that he prepared a weapon and sought out B.

A also claimed in court that swinging the weapon at C was self-defense to protect himself. However, the court stated, "According to the CCTV at the time, C appeared to be holding A back to prevent an attack on victim B," and "It was confirmed that the defendant first stabbed C with the weapon, which is not self-defense."

Before this incident, A had many cases of assault and injury due to inability to control his anger and is known to have 26 prior criminal convictions.

Additionally, A repeatedly said "I am innocent" in court and was warned by the judge.

The court stated, "Recently, antisocial crimes involving murder to express one's anger have been rampant in our society," and "We must impose appropriate punishment on crimes that disregard and violate others' lives to protect innocent lives, and it is necessary to declare the principle that such people must pay the price."

Furthermore, "Retaliatory crimes undermine the criminal justice order and are highly condemnable, requiring severe punishment," and "In his letter of remorse, A only emphasized his innocence without showing apology or remorse. The anger expressed from A's distorted disposition cannot be socially tolerated," the court added.

Finally, the court explained the sentencing reason, saying, "A must be permanently isolated from society to protect the safety of our community members."

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