A teenager who killed a classmate after enduring over three hours of severe abuse was sentenced to prison.
On the 14th, the Criminal Division 2 of the Gangneung Branch of Chuncheon District Court (Chief Judge Kwon Sang-pyo) sentenced A (19) to 5 years in prison as the long-term sentence and 3 years as the short-term sentence for murder charges.
A was tried on charges of killing his middle school classmate B (19) around 2:30 a.m. on April 14. According to the indictment, around 11:40 p.m. on the 13th, about three hours before the incident, B and C (19) visited an apartment in Samcheok City where A lived. B, a middle school classmate, was a school violence perpetrator who had regularly bullied A. On that day, B, who came to A’s house, complained that the house was dirty, filled a pot with water, and splashed it in the living room and bedroom, then forced A to wipe it up.
B tormented A in a sadistic manner. B forcibly cut A’s hair, made him take off his clothes, and forced him to masturbate. When A hesitated, B continued to hit him and used other violence for about three hours.
Eventually, A took advantage of a moment when he went to the next room to get something and killed B with a weapon found in the kitchen. In court, A’s side claimed, “He was diagnosed with intellectual disability and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), was taking prescribed psychiatric medication, and on the day of the incident, under the victim’s coercion, consumed a large amount of alcohol, resulting in a state of diminished or impaired mental capacity, so there was no intent to kill.”
However, the court concluded that there was intent. During the investigation, A stated, “On the day of the incident, I was severely bullied and really felt an extreme urge to kill.”
Regarding the claim of diminished mental capacity, the court acknowledged that A had taken prescribed psychiatric medication and drank a significant amount of soju under the victim’s coercion, but judged that since A remembered the incident in detail and specifically, he did not lose his ability to discern or control his actions. The court also considered that although A was diagnosed with a severe intellectual disability and had low academic performance and achievement, he completed the normal middle and high school curriculum and graduated.
The court stated, “Although the defendant’s side made a criminal deposit, the victim’s family refused to accept it and did not forgive him, and the victim’s father petitioned for a severe punishment.” “On the day of the incident, the victim’s abuse went beyond simple assault and, together with C, inflicted violence and severe abuse over about three hours to the extent of destroying A’s personality. Taking into account the circumstances that can be considerably considered in mitigation regarding the motive and the fact that the crime was committed impulsively, the sentence was determined.”
Dissatisfied with the first trial verdict, A appealed. The prosecution, which had sought a long-term sentence of 12 years and a short-term sentence of 6 years, also appealed.
A’s father said, “My son seems to live like a normal person when there is no external shock, but his problem-solving ability is poor when faced with a crisis. That is why he could neither escape nor seek help despite being bullied for nearly three hours.” He added, “When he takes prescribed medication, he experiences mental confusion, and drinking about two bottles of soju caused a psychotic episode. He should not be viewed as an ordinary person.”
C, who participated in bullying A at the time of the incident, is also on trial for special assault and other charges, with sentencing scheduled for October 17. The prosecution has requested a 9-year prison sentence for C.
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