Son Swings Hammer at Elderly Mother, Mom Pleads for Leniency

Court Orders "Do Not Visit Mother" in Unusual Request

A man in his 60s who swung a blunt weapon at his elderly mother was sentenced to a fine in the appellate court. The mother’s earnest and repeated pleas were taken into consideration.

On the 11th, Yonhap News reported that the Jeonju District Court’s 1st Criminal Division (Chief Judge Kim Sang-gon) upheld the original sentence of a fine of 8 million won, dismissing the prosecution’s appeal in the appellate trial of Mr. A (63), who was charged with special threats against a senior family member and special property damage.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Earlier, Mr. A was indicted for swinging a hammer in anger at his mother on October 7, 2022, at their home in Gunsan City after she told him, “I can’t live with you anymore, so leave the house.” He also destroyed 10 flowerpots that his mother had cherished by striking them with the blunt weapon in a fit of rage.

According to the investigation, Mr. A had multiple prior convictions for similar offenses and was sentenced to 10 months in prison in May 2019 for threats, serving time in prison.

The first trial court stated, “Considering that he threatened his elderly mother with a dangerous object and even broke flowerpots, the nature of the crime is not good,” but also “took into account the victim’s (mother’s) repeated pleas for leniency toward the defendant,” and sentenced him to a fine. The prosecution immediately appealed, arguing that the sentence was too light and unfair.

The appellate court said, “No matter how much dissatisfaction there is, we seriously considered whether such behavior against one’s mother is acceptable and whether it is right to end with just a fine.”

It added, “We specially took into account that the mother does not want punishment for the victim.” It also stated, “Considering that the defendant expressed his intention to leave his mother’s house and live elsewhere, the possibility of reoffending seems low,” and advised the defendant, “Do not ever visit your mother. It seems hard for your mother and your siblings as well.”

Earlier last month, the Daegu District Court sentenced Ms. A (46), an adopted daughter, to a fine of 3 million won for charges of assault against a senior family member after pushing her mother down while demanding money. The elderly mother, over seventy years old, suffered injuries to her back and waist, resulting in a two-week recovery period.

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