[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The court sentenced a man to prison for stabbing a restaurant owner with a weapon after causing a disturbance at the restaurant and then calling the owner out to apologize.
The Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judge Shin Hyuk-jae) announced on the 6th that it sentenced Lee, who was charged with attempted murder, to five years in prison.
On March 21 at around 4:30 p.m., Lee caused a disturbance while intoxicated at a restaurant in Guro-gu, Seoul. When the restaurant owner, Mr. A, tried to stop him, Lee said, "I will come back tonight and kill you," and then left the restaurant.
Three hours later, Lee returned to the restaurant, saying he wanted to apologize for causing the disturbance. He then took Mr. A to an alley and stabbed him with a weapon. Mr. A was diagnosed with injuries requiring five weeks of treatment.
In court, Lee’s defense attorney claimed, "There was no intent to kill, and he was in a state of diminished mental capacity due to intoxication."
However, the court ruled, "The defendant had prepared the weapon in advance and continued to wield it even after the victim had fallen, indicating intent to kill."
The court further explained the sentencing, stating, "Considering that the defendant hid the weapon and returned to the restaurant to lure the victim, it cannot be seen as a state of diminished or lost mental capacity. He attempted to kill a stranger over a trivial matter, planned the crime by preparing the weapon in advance, which shows a very bad nature of the crime, and has not compensated the victim."
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