Son Assaults, Mother Pushes... Victim Dies from Beating, Family Outraged at Two-Year Sentence

Man in His 70s Dies from Head Injury
Family: "Unjust That Murder Charge Was Not Applied"
Court: "Sentence Reduced Due to Defendant's Youth"

In Muan, South Jeolla Province, a teenage youth who assaulted a man in his 70s during a heated argument between his mother and a neighbor, resulting in the man's death, was sentenced to prison and taken into custody in court. The victim's family has requested the prosecution to appeal, claiming that the initial investigation was mishandled from the outset.

On October 16, the 1st Criminal Division of the Mokpo Branch of the Gwangju District Court (Presiding Judge Jung Hyunki) sentenced 16-year-old A, who was indicted on charges of inflicting bodily injury resulting in death, to a prison term of two years (maximum) and one year (minimum), and ordered his immediate detention in court. A's mother, B, who was also indicted, received a fine of 1 million won.

A teenage youth who assaulted a man in his 70s, resulting in his death, was sentenced to prison and taken into custody in court.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of October 13 last year in a residential area of a village in Muan County, South Jeolla Province. At the time, A became suddenly enraged when his mother, B, was arguing with their neighbor, C (in his 70s), and struck C in the face multiple times with his fist, according to the investigation. B was also indicted for pushing C on the shoulder.

Immediately after the assault, C suffered a severe head injury and was transported to the hospital by emergency responders, but he died within five days. An autopsy revealed that a skull fracture was the direct cause of death.

The court stated, "Although the verbal altercation with the victim had already subsided, the defendant, in a moment of anger, repeatedly struck the victim's face. It is a serious matter that, even after the victim collapsed and lost consciousness, no emergency measures were taken."

However, the court also noted, "In determining the sentence, we considered that the defendant had just passed the age of criminal responsibility and that the crime was not premeditated."

Nevertheless, the victim's family is strongly protesting, arguing that the sentence is excessively lenient. The family stated, "The exact cause of death was clearly due to the assault, and there were witnesses to the incident, yet the defendant was only charged with inflicting bodily injury resulting in death," and has requested the prosecution to appeal.

The family added, "Both the attending physician and the medical examiner confirmed that the assault was the direct cause of death, so we cannot understand why the charge of murder was not applied. My father passed away without being able to say a word or even open his eyes. Is this justice?" they said in anguish.