"Stepped on Foot"... 20s Patient Assaulting Fellow Hospital Patient Sentenced to 7 Years in Appeal Trial

[Asia Economy Reporter Seoyoung Kwon] A man in his 20s who indiscriminately assaulted and attempted to kill a patient hospitalized in the same nursing hospital was sentenced to the same heavy sentence in the appellate trial as in the original trial.

Today (20th), the 1st Criminal Division of the Jeonju Branch of the Gwangju High Court (Chief Judge Seongju Kim) announced that it upheld the original sentence of 7 years in prison in the appellate trial against Mr. A (22), who was charged with attempted murder.

Mr. A, who was hospitalized in a nursing hospital in Imsil-gun due to schizophrenia and other conditions, was charged with assaulting and attempting to kill patient Mr. B (52) around 8 p.m. on March 8 in the hospital corridor after Mr. B stepped on his foot. Mr. A was investigated to have beaten Mr. B about 120 times with his fists, causing injuries requiring 12 weeks of medical treatment, and continued the assault even after Mr. B lost consciousness.

The court explained, "The defendant focused his assault on the victim's face simply because the victim stepped on his foot." It added, "Since the victim's life could have been lost as a result, the charge of attempted murder is recognized," and ruled, "Considering these circumstances comprehensively, the original sentence does not seem excessively harsh."