Husband Who Left Wife to Die After Assault... 4 Years Imprisonment in Second Trial

Husband Reported as Natural Death... Attempt to Conceal Crime
Court: "Cannot Assess Original Sentencing Decision as Beyond Rational Limits"

Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A husband who caused his wife to fall during a marital dispute, severely injuring her head, assaulted her, and then left her collapsed without assistance, resulting in her death, was sentenced to four years in prison in the second trial as well.

The Criminal Division 3 of Suwon High Court (Presiding Judge Kim Seong-su) announced on the 30th that it handed down the same sentence as the first trial to Mr. A, who was charged with assault leading to death.

On December 8 last year, Mr. A was charged with assault after pushing his wife, Mrs. B, during an argument over household expenses at home, grabbing her face with his hand and shaking it, and kicking her abdomen.

At that time, Mrs. B, who was pushed by Mr. A, was found to have fallen after hitting the back of her head hard against the refrigerator handle located just behind her. However, Mr. A did not take any particular action for more than three days after Mrs. B collapsed, and she died from a cerebral hemorrhage on the morning of the 12th of the same month.

Mr. A, who was brought to trial, was sentenced to four years in prison in the first trial on February 1, and recently received the same sentence in the second trial.

The appellate court stated the sentencing rationale, saying, "The defendant assaulted the victim by forcefully pushing her chest, causing her head to hit the refrigerator, and despite the victim lying down continuously afterward, he failed to take appropriate measures for over three days, leading to her death. After the incident, he also attempted to conceal the crime by reporting it as a natural death."

It added, "Although the defendant did not intend the outcome, considering the serious result of the victim’s precious life being lost, a corresponding punishment is necessary. Taking all these circumstances into account, it cannot be judged that the sentencing decision of the original trial exceeded the reasonable limits of discretion."