Older Brother Sentenced to 12 Years Imprisonment, Younger Brother Given 7 Years and Probation
On August 31 last year, brothers accused of killing a family member and other charges entered the Daegu District Court Seobu Branch to undergo a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing). / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The court handed a copy of Park Wan-seo's book "The Bicycle Thief" to teenage siblings on trial for murdering their biological grandmother, urging them to reflect on their actions.
On the 20th, after delivering the verdict, Chief Judge Kim Jeong-il of the Criminal Division 1 at Daegu District Court Seobu Branch handed two books to the teenage siblings sitting in court with bowed heads. This came after sentencing the siblings, who brutally killed their grandmother with a weapon because she frequently nagged them not to play games, to prison terms and a suspended sentence.
The book given by Judge Kim was the late Park Wan-seo's "The Bicycle Thief." The story revolves around Sunam, a 16-year-old employee at an electrical goods wholesale store, who, while running an errand for the store owner, accidentally scratches a luxury car with his bicycle.
After the wealthy car owner who tied up the bicycle and demanded repair costs disappeared, the adults around advised Sunam to "take the bicycle and run away," leading him to flee carrying the bicycle.
Upon returning to the store, Sunam confessed what had happened to the owner. Instead of scolding him, the owner praised Sunam, saying he was "lucky," leaving Sunam confused between feelings of guilt and an inexplicable sense of relief.
While handing over the book, the court added, "We hope the two brothers will contemplate how they want to live their lives going forward."
Meanwhile, on the same day (the 20th), Chief Judge Kim sentenced A (19), who was indicted and detained on charges including killing a family member, to 12 years in prison as the long-term sentence and 7 years as the short-term sentence. Additionally, A was ordered to wear an electronic tracking device for 10 years and complete 80 hours of violence and mental health treatment programs.
The younger brother B (17), who was also indicted and detained for aiding the crime (abetting the killing of a family member), was sentenced to 2 years and 6 months in prison with a 3-year suspended sentence.
A was charged with stabbing their biological grandmother C (77) over 60 times with a weapon at their home in Daegu on August 30 last year, killing her, and attempted to kill their grandfather who witnessed the crime but was stopped by B, resulting in an attempted murder charge.
B is accused of assisting his brother's crime by following A's instructions to "make sure Grandma's screams don't escape" by closing the windows.
It was confirmed that the two brothers had been living with their physically disabled grandparents since 2012 after their parents divorced. During the trial, A stated that the motive for killing their grandmother was because she often said things like "Don't play games," "Buy your own food with your meal card," which he disliked, and "Leave the house when you turn 20," which made him anxious.
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