‘Incheon Stalking Murder’ Man in His 30s Sentenced to 30 Years in Second Trial... Increased Sentence

A man in his 30s who brutally murdered his ex-lover with a weapon after violating a court-issued restraining order was sentenced to 30 years in prison in the appellate court, a heavier sentence than the first trial.

A man in his 30s, Mr. A, who was arrested on charges including the murder of his former lover in the hallway of an apartment in Incheon while she was on her way to work, is being transferred from Incheon Nonhyeon Police Station to the prosecution on the morning of July 28 last year.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 17th, the Criminal Division 6-3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Lee Yesul, Jeong Jae-o, Choi Eun-jeong) sentenced Mr. A, 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, to 30 years in prison. He was also ordered to complete a 40-hour stalking treatment program and to wear an electronic location tracking device for 10 years.

The court stated, “The defendant persistently stalked the victim, causing physical and psychological distress,” and added, “Despite the victim taking all protective measures provided by law to defend herself, the defendant harbored resentment and firmly resolved to commit murder by purchasing a lethal weapon with the intent to retaliate.”

It continued, “The victim’s mother witnessed the crime and tried to intervene but failed, and the victim’s 6-year-old daughter saw her mother and grandmother covered in blood, which is expected to cause trauma for a considerable time,” and criticized, “The defendant made no significant efforts to restore the victim’s well-being.”

Furthermore, the court explained, “This crime falls under the category of murder with a blameworthy motive, was committed with premeditation, and the cruel method of the crime is considered a special sentencing factor,” and stated, “The 25-year sentence imposed by the lower court was excessively lenient and unjust.”

Mr. A was arrested and indicted for stabbing and killing his ex-lover, Ms. B, in the hallway of an apartment in Namdong-gu, Incheon, at 5:53 a.m. on July 17 last year. It was investigated that despite receiving the court’s provisional orders No. 2 and 3 in June last year, which prohibited him from approaching within 100 meters of Ms. B and from contacting her via electronic communication due to past assault and stalking offenses, Mr. A committed the crime.

Meanwhile, immediately after the sentencing, the victim’s cousin held a press conference and said, “It has been exactly one year since my sister passed away,” and added, “There can never be a satisfactory sentence for the victim.” She also said, “The most heartbreaking thing after the trial is that despite fighting hard, my sister will never come back alive,” and pleaded, “Please pay attention so that such victims do not appear in the future, and I earnestly request the swift passage of the dating violence legislation.”