Indiscriminate Violence Against Pets, Nurses, Security Guards... 4-Year Prison Sentence Upheld in Second Trial

Chuncheon District Court · Seoul High Court Chuncheon Branch [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] A man in his 50s who committed indiscriminate violence against subordinates, pet dogs and their owners, nurses, and apartment security guards was sentenced to prison again in the second trial.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Chuncheon Branch of the Seoul High Court (Chief Judge Hwang Seung-tae) announced on the 10th that it sentenced Mr. A (55), who was indicted on charges including special assault, to four years in prison, the same as the original sentence.

In October 2018, Mr. A grabbed the collar and assaulted subordinate employee B with fists and feet, causing injury, because B intervened while he was scolding another subordinate.

On April 20, 2019, in broad daylight, he hit a pet dog owned by Mr. C (63) with a pipe, and when Mr. C tried to stop him, he assaulted Mr. C's face and abdomen with the pipe and threw a large stone at his face.

That same night, at an emergency room of a university hospital in Chuncheon, Mr. A cursed and assaulted a nurse because she refused to remove an IV needle.

While Mr. A was on trial in custody, he was released on bail but committed violent crimes again.

In September 2020, without any reason, he threw a tree branch at a house, assaulted a resident who protested, causing burns with a cigarette, and in the same month, he threw garbage on the road and assaulted an apartment security guard who tried to stop him.

Mr. A, who was tried on seven charges including violence, denied most of the crimes, but the first trial court found him guilty on all counts and sentenced him to four years in prison.

However, after Mr. C was assaulted by Mr. A, he died about six months later from acute cardiopulmonary failure, and the prosecution changed the charge from special assault to injury resulting in death. Based on medical institution inquiries, the court found him not guilty, and the appellate court also rejected the prosecution's claim that "there is a causal relationship between Mr. A's assault and Mr. C's death."

The court explained the sentencing reason, saying, "Considering that he committed multiple similar violent crimes, committed the remaining crimes again after being released on bail while on trial for some of the crimes, and that no compensation or settlement with the victims has been made, the sentence was determined."