"University Student Sentenced to 5 Years for Killing Mother Over Late Return Home... Family Appeals for Leniency"

A university student who killed his mother after being scolded for coming home late from drinking was sentenced to prison.

On the 15th, the 12th Criminal Division of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Dang Woojeung) sentenced Lee Mo (19), who was indicted on charges of killing a direct ascendant, to five years in prison.

The court stated, "The damage caused by the victim's death is irreparable, and the bereaved family is suffering mental anguish," but also judged that "the defendant is remorseful and the crime was committed impulsively."

It added, "The defendant has no prior criminal record, was a juvenile (under 19) at the time of the crime, and the defendant's sister and maternal uncle, who are the victim's bereaved family, have pleaded for leniency," explaining the sentencing by saying, "Considering all these circumstances, we sentence five years in prison, slightly below the lower limit of the sentencing guidelines."

Lee was indicted on charges of stabbing and killing his mother in her 50s with a weapon at an apartment in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, on the morning of August 3. At the time, Lee was intoxicated, and it was understood that he committed the crime out of anger after his mother scolded him for coming home late.