Murderer of Neighbor in Apartment, Gangseo-gu, Seoul Sentenced to 27 Years in First Trial

Court: "Victim, usually called aunt, murdered... Strict punishment inevitable"
"Considering the crime was committed impulsively, a suspended prison sentence is imposed"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A man in his 40s who was tried on charges of murdering a female neighbor living in the same apartment to raise moving expenses was sentenced to a heavy prison term in the first trial.

The Criminal Division 14 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Dong-hyun) held a sentencing hearing on the 5th for Park, a man in his 40s indicted on charges of trespassing and robbery-murder, and sentenced him to 27 years in prison. However, the court dismissed the prosecution's request for an electronic location tracking device order.

The court stated, "Murder is a crime that takes away the life of a person who can be considered the most precious in this world, and especially robbery-murder is more condemnable because it involves killing a person for monetary gain," adding, "Since the defendant killed the victim whom he usually called 'imo' (aunt), this crime must be severely punished."

It continued, "Although the defendant did not initially plan robbery or murder, the situation unexpectedly escalated leading to the crime, and considering that his mother had passed away at the time and he was in a mentally unstable state when planning the initial theft, the court will not impose the death penalty or life imprisonment but will reduce the sentence to a fixed-term imprisonment," explaining the sentencing rationale.

Furthermore, the court reprimanded, "The defendant is physically healthy but has lived a self-destructive life relying on his mother, which is incomprehensible," and added, "We hope he will spend his time in prison thoroughly atoning for his actions."

Earlier, during the prosecution's closing arguments, the prosecution demanded the death penalty, stating, "The defendant brutally murdered a neighbor he usually called 'imo' for his own economic benefit," and "He showed no sincere remorse, even reversing his statements during the investigation."

Park expressed in his final statement, "I sincerely apologize to the victim and her family."

Park was arrested and indicted on charges of murdering his neighbor A, whom he had known through his mother, to raise moving expenses after his mother passed away and he faced eviction from an apartment in Deungchon-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul, while living on basic living benefits.

Park learned the password to A's house and was secretly searching through items when the victim entered; he then killed her and stole 1,928,000 won in valuables before fleeing.

The police responded to a report from a visiting social worker that "A could not be contacted" and found A dead inside the apartment. It was reported that A was found with her hands and feet tied.

The police identified Park as the suspect through CCTV footage, testimonies from neighbors, and fingerprints at the scene, and arrested him at a motel in Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province, later that month.