Husband Throws Stone Killing Wife by Drowning in the Sea... Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison Requested

The prosecution has sought a heavy sentence for a husband who killed his wife by pushing her into the sea off Jamjindo, Incheon, and then throwing stones at her.

On the 31st, at the sentencing hearing held by the 14th Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Kyung-jin), the prosecution requested a 30-year prison sentence for Mr. A (30), who was arrested and indicted on charges of murder.

The prosecution stated, "The defendant claims the crime was committed due to domestic discord, but the ultimate cause was the defendant's affair," adding, "The defendant pushed the victim into the water and, when the water level was not high, tried to pull her into deeper water." They further explained, "The defendant threw a large stone that requires both hands to lift, ultimately killing the victim, which clearly shows a planned crime," and noted, "We also considered the fact that no agreement was reached with the victim's family."

During the hearing, the prosecution presented CCTV and thermal camera footage capturing Mr. A's crime. The footage showed Mr. A repeatedly throwing large stones at Ms. B, who was struggling in the sea, and then approaching his wife, who was floating face down in the water.

When the judge asked why Mr. A approached his wife, he replied, "I was trying to check (whether she was dead)," and added, "Since she was drifting away, I was unsure what to do and ended up making a false report as if it were an accidental death."

The Coast Guard is conducting an on-site inspection of Mr. A, a man in his 30s suspected of drowning his wife in the sea and throwing stones to kill her at the Jamjindo embankment in Deokgyo-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon. July 19, 2023.
Photo by Yonhap News

In his final defense, Mr. A's lawyer appealed for leniency, stating, "The defendant initially denied the crime but confessed and cooperated with the investigation. On the day he was detained, he even attempted an extreme act due to guilt," and added, "He is enduring painful days and is trying in every way to reach an agreement with the bereaved family."

Wearing a yellow-brown prison uniform, Mr. A appeared in court and said, "I am ashamed of my actions and sincerely regret them," adding, "I want to sincerely apologize to my wife, the victim, and her family, and I will live the rest of my life atoning for my sins."

Mr. A is accused of pushing his wife, Ms. B, in her 30s, into the sea from the Jamjindo embankment in Jung-gu, Incheon, around 2:40 a.m. on July 15, and then throwing stones to prevent her from coming back up, resulting in her death.

On the day of the crime, Mr. A falsely reported to 119, saying, "I came to Jamjindo with my wife to go fishing, and while I went to get some things from the car, my wife was drifting away in the sea." However, when the coast guard presented evidence during the investigation, he admitted the charges, saying, "Due to ongoing discord with my wife, I thought it was impossible to live together any longer, so I committed the crime."