A 40-Year-Old Main Suspect Faces 20 Years Imprisonment for Knife Attack During Street Brawl in Songdo

"Serious Nature of Crime... Some Defendants Deny Charges"

The prosecution has demanded heavy sentences for four men and women who seriously injured two middle-aged men during a street fight in Songdo International City, Incheon.

On the 24th, at the sentencing hearing held by the 12th Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Shim Jae-wan), the prosecution requested a 20-year prison sentence for Mr. A (42), who was indicted on charges including attempted murder. The prosecution also asked the court to order Mr. A to wear an electronic location tracking device (electronic anklet) for 10 years after his release.

The prosecution further requested six years in prison each for two men in their 30s, including Mr. B, who were tried together on charges of aggravated assault, and seven years in prison for Mr. A’s wife in her 20s, who was charged with aiding and abetting attempted murder. The prosecution explained the reasons for the sentencing request, stating, "Considering the defendants’ methods of crime, the nature of the offense is severe," and "We also took into account that some defendants denied the charges."

Three men in their 40s, including one who seriously injured two middle-aged men during a street fight in Songdo International City, Incheon, appeared at the Incheon District Court in Michuhol-gu on May 29 for a pre-trial detention hearing.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Mr. A has claimed during the trial that "one of the victims struck me with a three-section staff, and in a dazed state, I instinctively used a weapon," and insisted, "I had no intent to kill."

Mr. A was arrested and indicted on charges of attempting to kill Mr. C, a man in his 40s whom he had known, by stabbing him multiple times with a weapon on the street in Songdo International City, Yeonsu District, Incheon, around 10:20 p.m. on May 26. Two others, including Mr. B, who participated in the crime, were also indicted for assaulting Mr. C and his companions, causing injuries, and Mr. A’s wife was indicted for assisting the crime by luring the victim.

Investigations revealed that Mr. A prepared the weapon in advance and, together with Mr. B and others, went to the building where the victims’ office was located to commit the crime. The prosecution stated that the accomplices, including Mr. B, attempted to destroy evidence by disposing of the weapon used by Mr. A. It was understood that Mr. A committed the crime out of anger after suffering losses while trading cryptocurrency introduced by the victim.