Husband Sentenced to 25 Years in First Trial for Killing Wife Who Refused Sexual Relations

A man in his 30s who killed his wife three months after their marriage because she refused to have sexual relations has been sentenced to 25 years in prison.

On September 25, the 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court, presided over by Judge Jang Chan, sentenced Seo (35) to 25 years in prison on charges of murder. The court dismissed the prosecution’s request for an order of probation.

The court stated, "The defendant brutally killed his spouse, whom he had promised to spend his life with, in the home, which should be the most peaceful place in the world. The pain and fear the victim must have felt are unimaginable. After committing the crime, the defendant attempted to conceal and downplay his actions to avoid responsibility, which likely intensified the psychological shock and suffering of the bereaved family."

The court continued, "The autopsy revealed that the victim had a toxic concentration of sleeping pills in her system and a blood alcohol level of 0.024%. Therefore, the defendant’s claim that he strangled her after an argument while she was awake was not accepted."

Seo was indicted for strangling his wife to death while intoxicated at their home in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on March 13, about three months after their marriage. He acted as the chief mourner at his wife's funeral before being urgently arrested by the police. During the investigation, Seo initially denied the charges, but when confronted with evidence, he claimed the crime was committed impulsively.

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