Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty for Man in His 40s in 'Sinwol-dong Neighbor Murder and Arson' Case: "Must Be Isolated from Society"

The prosecution requested the court to impose the death penalty on Jeong Mo (40), who was brought to trial on charges of murdering a woman in her 70s living downstairs and setting fire to the scene.

At the trial held at 10:50 a.m. on the 20th before the 12th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Dang Woo-jeung), the prosecution sought the death penalty for Jeong. The prosecution stated, "The innocent victim lost her life in agony, and the bereaved family suffers lifelong mental anguish, yet there has been no active attempt to seek forgiveness, compensate the victim, or offer any consolation." They added, "The nature of the crime is extremely heinous, and to protect many law-abiding citizens, he must be isolated from our society." The bereaved family sobbed quietly.

According to the prosecution, Jeong was arrested and indicted on charges of murder and arson of an inhabited building after killing Ms. A, a woman in her 70s living on the lower floor of a multi-family house, around 8 p.m. on June 14. He also stole Ms. A’s money to use as funds for fleeing. Jeong was apprehended at a motel in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, at 12:22 a.m. on June 18, four days after the crime.

During police interrogation, Jeong stated that the crime was committed due to disputes over inter-floor water leakage. However, the prosecution viewed that after water leakage occurred around December last year, Jeong harbored resentment toward Ms. A, and when his lease was about to expire in June, making it impossible to continue living there, he was consumed by hatred and committed the crime. The prosecution explained, "Since June 2019, when Jeong installed a washing machine causing water leakage into Ms. A’s residence below, Ms. A did not directly raise any issues with Jeong for two years, and from the water leakage in December last year until the day of the incident, there were no disputes. He committed the crime under the mistaken belief that his situation was caused by the victim."

Before the sentencing request, the victim’s lawyer appealed from the victim’s perspective, saying, "In a situation where private revenge is prohibited, the only way to punish the defendant is through the court’s judgment," urging for a severe sentence. The victim’s side submitted a petition signed by about 3,300 citizens demanding the defendant’s death penalty to the court. Previously, the bereaved family also submitted a statement requesting that Jeong be severely punished with either the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Jeong’s defense argued, "The defendant is aware that he committed a crime beyond the bounds of seeking leniency from the court or the bereaved family and has accepted punishment since the investigation stage," but asked the court to consider that it was not a premeditated crime and that it occurred impulsively while intoxicated.

In his final statement, Jeong said, "All I can say is that I am sorry," and added, "I do not know how to ask for forgiveness separately." He continued, "I will accept any severe sentence the court hands down."