Wife Kills Husband by Beating Him to Death After Asking for Divorce Just 8 Days After Marriage

Brutally Assaulted with Mr. B, Known During Husband's Homeless Period
Sentenced to 10 Years for Injury Resulting in Death and Other Charges
"Cleared Crime Traces After False Report"

Mr. A is accused of shouting at her husband to "cancel the marriage registration" and assaulting him to death when he refused. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Juri] A wife who demanded a divorce from her husband just 8 days after registering their marriage and fatally beat him when he refused was sentenced to a heavy prison term again in the appellate court.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Chuncheon Branch of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Hwang Seung-tae) overturned the original sentences of 8 years and 5 years imprisonment for A, who was charged with injury resulting in death and arson of a dwelling, respectively, and sentenced her to 10 years in prison on the 28th.

A was tried on charges of shouting at her husband to "cancel the marriage registration" while drinking with her husband and B, whom her husband had met during his homeless life, at her husband's house in April last year, and fatally assaulting her husband when he refused.

Investigations revealed that A, together with B, covered her husband's mouth with a short-sleeved T-shirt and a wire hanger while he was naked, and tied his hands and feet with an electric blanket cord to assault him.

The victim fell after hitting his head against the wall and soon stopped breathing, but A was confirmed to have calmly continued drinking beside her husband.

Later, A reported, "The person is not breathing and the body is cold. It seems like hypothermia," but the victim was already dead.

Despite A denying the crime, the Wonju Branch of the Chuncheon District Court found her guilty on all charges and sentenced her to 8 years in prison.

Separately from the injury resulting in death charge, A also committed crimes including arson of a dwelling, trespassing in a shared residence, and special property damage, for which she was sentenced to 5 years in prison in the first trial and appealed the verdict.

The appellate court, which consolidated the two cases for trial, considered the combined punishment and fairness, overturned the original rulings, and sentenced her to 10 years in prison.

The appellate court pointed out, "The defendant repeatedly inflicted violence on the victim who was in a vulnerable state without any resistance, causing death, and tried to conceal the crime by making a false report and cleaning up the traces of the crime."

It added, "The sentence was determined comprehensively considering the defendant's apology and remorse, and the fact that bipolar affective disorder seemed to have somewhat influenced the crime," explaining the reasons for sentencing.