Why Did the Wife Who Tried to Poison Her Husband with Perilla Oil Containing Pesticide Receive a Suspended Sentence in the First Trial?

A wife who attempted to poison her husband of 40 years by mixing insecticide into his favorite perilla oil was sentenced to prison with a suspended sentence in the first trial. The court showed leniency, citing circumstances such as the wife being subjected to unfair treatment over a long period and the amount of insecticide used not reaching a lethal dose. However, the husband’s side protested, calling the ruling overly lenient.

On the 13th, the Jeonju District Court Criminal Division 7 (Judge Han Ji-suk) sentenced A (64), who was charged with attempted special injury, to 8 months in prison with a 1-year suspended sentence, according to reports by Yonhap News and others. A was accused of secretly trying to feed insecticide to her husband B (66) at their home in Imsil-gun, Jeollabuk-do, in April of last year.

Investigations revealed that A had put insecticide into the perilla oil and pills that her husband B frequently consumed. B, who was mixing the perilla oil with rice, noticed a strange smell and immediately spat it out, resulting in the attempt failing. He recounted, "While eating, my throat stung and hurt, so I spat it out right away."

The investigation found that A committed the crime because she believed B, who usually went out for his hobbies, was speaking ill of her outside. After the incident, village residents submitted petitions to the court and investigative agencies urging strict punishment for A.

However, the court, while pointing out the malicious and dangerous nature of the method used, did not impose a prison sentence on A. The court stated, "The crime was an attempt and the insecticide mixed into the perilla oil was found to be below a lethal dose according to the investigation," and sentenced her to 8 months in prison with a 1-year suspended sentence.

Furthermore, the court explained the sentencing by saying, "The defendant was subjected to unfair treatment such as domestic violence by the victim over a long period and appeared to have acted impulsively in a psychologically unstable state," and "considering that the defendant’s children pleaded for leniency, the sentence was determined."

Meanwhile, B met with reporters immediately after the sentencing and claimed, "As shown in the petitions submitted by village residents, there was no unfair treatment toward my wife, with whom I lived for 40 years." He expressed his intention to appeal, saying, "The court listened only to one side and handed down a one-sided lenient ruling."

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