Death Penalty Sought for Stalking Murderer of Ex-Lover: "I Will Pay for My Crime, Please Sentence Me to Death"

The prosecution has sought the death penalty, the highest sentence in court, against a man in his 30s who brutally murdered his ex-lover in front of their 6-year-old daughter.

On the 15th, at the sentencing hearing held by the 15th Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Ryu Hojung), the prosecution requested this sentence for Mr. A (30, male), who was indicted on charges including retaliatory murder under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and violation of the Stalking Punishment Act.

The prosecution stated, "The defendant repeatedly violated the court's provisional measures during ongoing stalking, went to the victim's home during commuting hours, and brutally and deliberately murdered the defenseless victim. The defendant also inflicted injuries on the victim’s mother who tried to stop the crime, and the victim’s young child and family witnessed the crime scene, suffering irreparable psychological trauma. The case is extremely serious."

They further explained, "After respecting the victim’s opinions during the investigation and trial, and comprehensively considering similar domestic and international cases and the court’s sentencing guidelines, we have no choice but to seek the death penalty, the highest sentence in court, for the defendant who committed this cruel crime that took a precious life and caused irreparable pain to the victim and their bereaved family."

Upon hearing the death penalty was sought, Mr. A tearfully made his final statement: "(Although) executions are not carried out domestically, I have heard it could happen," and pleaded, "Your Honor, please sentence me to death so that I may atone for the immense grief of the bereaved family with my life and pay for my sins." As he repeatedly mentioned the victim’s daughter’s name during his statement, the bereaved family strongly protested, saying, "How can you mention (the child’s) name?"

Mr. A’s defense attorney, in the final argument, said, "The defendant fully admits his wrongdoing and understands the wounds of the bereaved family, and is prepared to accept the sentence imposed," but added, "I want to emphasize that the crime was not committed with the purpose of retaliation following a stalking report, but rather due to a subjectively felt sense of victimization."

A man in his 30s who stalked and killed his ex-lover
Photo by Yonhap News

Earlier, the prosecution submitted a motion to amend the indictment to the court, adding the more severe charge of retaliatory murder to Mr. A’s charges including murder, and received the court’s approval on the day of the trial. The prosecution changed the main charge to retaliatory murder but also applied the general murder charge as a backup in case the retaliatory murder charge is acquitted.

The statutory minimum sentence for murder is imprisonment for at least five years, but if retaliatory murder under the Special Act is applied, the minimum sentence is ten years. The prosecution stated, "Based on additional findings during the trial, it was sufficiently confirmed that the defendant committed the crime with retaliatory intent. When the victim’s stalking report led to criminal punishment, the defendant planned the murder, including purchasing a weapon."

Mr. A was arrested and indicted on charges of stabbing his ex-lover Ms. B (37, female) in the chest and back with a weapon in the hallway of an apartment in Namdong-gu, Incheon, at 5:53 a.m. on July 17. Upon hearing Ms. B’s screams and coming outside, he also swung the weapon multiple times at Ms. B’s mother, who tried to stop the crime, severely injuring both her hands.

Ms. B’s younger sibling tearfully stated at the fourth trial on the 21st of last month, "Our niece (the victim’s daughter) witnessed her mother being stabbed right before her eyes. The 6-year-old child, who could not say a final goodbye to her mother, will have to live with the trauma and wounds of that cruel day for the rest of her life."

Investigations revealed that despite receiving the court’s second and third provisional orders in June, which prohibited Mr. A from approaching within 100 meters of Ms. B and from contacting her via telecommunications due to prior assault and stalking crimes, he still committed the crime.