"He Won't Die from That"... Retired Coast Guard Puts Thumb in Wife's Mouth Who Asked to Call an Ambulance

Court: "The crime method is brutal, and there are no mitigating circumstances at all"

A former coast guard officer in his 60s who habitually assaulted his wife was sentenced to prison.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] A former maritime police officer in his 60s was sentenced to prison for repeatedly assaulting his wife over several years, citing reasons such as her refusal to engage in sexual relations or not attending his retirement ceremony.

On the 5th, the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Kim Isul) announced that it sentenced retired maritime police officer A (61), who was charged with special injury, assault causing injury, threats, and assault, to two years in prison.

A was tried for threatening or assaulting his wife B (53) at their residence in Namdong-gu, Incheon, between August 2016 and June 2020.

He strangled B’s neck or pushed her off the bed, repeatedly punched her face, claiming it was because she refused sexual relations. He also threatened to smash a dining chair down while cursing, saying he would "blow her head off" because she opposed his opinions.

On June 17 last year, he assaulted her for not attending his retirement ceremony, saying, "Who do you think you are to ruin my 33 years of public service life?" He then covered B’s mouth to prevent her from breathing when she pleaded, "Please save me. Please call for help," and continued the assault.

When B, unable to endure the pain, attempted to take her own life with a weapon, A took the weapon away and stabbed her twice in the side, saying, "You won’t die from that, you ***," while covering her mouth with his big toe to prevent her from calling 119 emergency services.

The court stated, "A was a public official who served as a maritime police officer for decades and was a spouse who promised to live a married life based on love and trust with B. Nevertheless, A continuously inflicted violence on B over a long period."

It added, "A’s methods were cruel, including covering B’s mouth to prevent her from telling others, turning off the intercom, and dragging the victim back after she tried to escape. There are no circumstances that justify or mitigate the motive or circumstances of the crime."