The caddie was knocked out by a golf ball... The ruling says "Let's continue the match"

6-Month Prison Sentence with 2-Year Probation in First Trial... Sentence Reduced on Appeal
Caddy Sustains 4-Week Injury After Full Swing 10m Ahead

A man in his 50s who caused serious injuries, including a broken nasal bone, by making a full swing right in front of a golf caddie and yet continued the game, received a reduced sentence in the appellate court.

On the 19th, Yonhap News reported that the Changwon District Court Criminal Division 3-2 (Presiding Judges Jeong Yuntaek, Kim Gipung, and Hong Yeyeon) overturned the original verdict and sentenced the man, identified as A, who was charged with gross negligence causing injury, to a fine of 7 million won in the appeal trial.

[Image source=Pixabay]

In the first trial, A was sentenced to six months in prison with a two-year probation, but the sentence was reduced to a fine in the appellate court.

A was tried on charges of injuring caddie B, who was assisting the game at a golf course in Uiryeong-gun, Gyeongnam Province, on February 14, 2021, by swinging a club to hit a golf ball about 10 meters ahead of B.

At the time, A’s ball from the 8th hole landed in a hazard (a depression or pond within the golf course). Upon seeing this, B said, "Since it’s a hazard, I will go and hit the ball," then moved to guide the shot and moved to the front right to assist other players.

However, without warning B to be careful, A placed another golf ball at the spot and made a full swing, and the ball struck B’s face. The place where A hit the ball again was only about 10 meters away from B.

B suffered damage to the cornea and iris and a broken nasal bone, receiving a medical diagnosis requiring four weeks of treatment. B lost consciousness after being hit by the golf ball and was taken to the hospital, but A reportedly requested the golf course to replace the caddie and completed all 18 holes.

The appellate court pointed out, "A acted in a morally reprehensible manner by continuing to play golf even after the caddie was injured and was not forgiven by B." The court also stated the reasons for the reduced sentence, saying, "Considering that A immediately called 119 after the accident to ensure B was transported to the hospital and bore most of the victim’s medical expenses."