Supreme Court upholds 15-year sentence for man who killed mother after paranoid delusions following promotion exam failure

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[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A man who fell into paranoia and killed his mother after failing the promotion exam for two consecutive years has been sentenced to a heavy prison term.

On the 11th, the Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Kim Seonsu) confirmed the original sentence of 15 years imprisonment and 5 years probation for A (42), an employee of a public corporation, who was indicted on charges of parricide and attempted parricide.

Last year, after failing the team leader promotion exam at work for two consecutive years, A fell into paranoia about his wife and parents, and was eventually tried for killing his mother in her 60s. Investigations revealed that he suffered from severe depression and developed delusions that his wife and parents were trying to kill him, which led to the crime.

He was also indicted on charges including assaulting his wife, who works at the same company, and attempting to kill his father.

In court, A pleaded for leniency, stating, "At the time of the crime, I was in a state of mental incapacity with schizophrenic symptoms, unable to distinguish objects or make decisions."

The first trial sentenced A to 15 years imprisonment and ordered 5 years of probation. The court at that time pointed out, "Considering the circumstances and cruel methods of the crime, the calculated behavior afterward, and the relationship with the victims, A's extreme violence cannot be taken lightly."

It added, "Although A appeared to have significant difficulty making rational decisions due to a serious mental illness, it is hard to conclude that he was completely incapable of distinguishing objects or making decisions."

The second trial also dismissed A's appeal, stating that it did not appear he was in a state of complete mental incapacity beyond diminished capacity.

The Supreme Court agreed with this judgment. The court stated, "The lower court did not err in its understanding of the requirements for attempted parricide and the legal principles regarding mental incapacity."