Siblings in Their 40s Sentenced to Prison for Beating Mother in Her 70s to Death

A prison sentence has been handed down to a man and his sister in their 40s for repeatedly assaulting and causing the death of their mother in her 70s, with whom they lived.

On April 17, the Criminal Division 12 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Park Jongyeol) sentenced Ms. Baek to seven years in prison and her younger brother, Mr. Baek, to three years in prison. Both were arrested and indicted on charges of parricide and violating the Welfare of the Aged Act.

Seoul Southern District Court. The Asia Business Daily

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The court determined that while the siblings’ prolonged assault resulted in their mother’s death-a grave outcome-intent to commit murder was not sufficiently proven. Therefore, the court found them guilty of involuntary manslaughter of a direct ancestor and violating the Welfare of the Aged Act, rather than the parricide charge brought by the prosecution.

The court stated, "This case involves sustained assaults over a significant period after the victim, due to advanced age, suffered from cognitive decline and mobility issues. Considering the extreme physical and psychological pain the victim must have endured, this is an immoral crime with severe culpability." However, the court also noted that the incident appeared to be impulsive rather than premeditated, and it was difficult to conclude that the assaults involved the use of weapons or were repeated with the intent to inflict fatal injuries.

The Baek siblings were arrested and indicted for repeatedly assaulting their mother at their home in Guro District, Seoul, on December 10 of last year, ultimately causing her death. Investigations revealed that they had continually beaten their mother on her back, hands, and feet, claiming she was unable to manage household chores properly due to age-related cognitive decline.

Previously, during the final sentencing hearing, prosecutors had sought a life sentence for Ms. Baek and 20 years in prison for her younger brother.

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