50s Man Who Killed Live-in Partner and Buried Her in Cement for 16 Years Admits Charges in First Trial

A man in his 50s who killed his cohabiting partner and concealed the body in a suitcase buried in cement for 16 years admitted all charges at the first trial.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Tongyeong Branch of Changwon District Court, Gyeongnam (Chief Judge Kim Young-seok) held the first trial for this case on the 31st of last month.

The defense attorney for Mr. A, in his 50s, stated on that day, "We admit all the charges brought by the prosecution."

Gyeongnam Changwon District Court Tongyeong Branch.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

According to the prosecution, Mr. A was prosecuted on charges of killing his cohabiting partner Ms. B and hiding the body in a multi-family house in Geoje City around October 10, 2008.

He became enraged after an argument over a romantic issue with Ms. B, who was in her 30s at the time, and struck her head and face with a blunt object, causing her death, then placed the body in a suitcase.

Mr. A moved the suitcase containing the body to the veranda, stacked bricks around it, poured about 10 cm thick cement, and hardened it to disguise it as a normal part of the house structure.

He continued to live in the house where the crime was committed until 2016, when he was arrested on drug charges.

Mr. A's crime was uncovered after 16 years when a worker called by the homeowner for leak repairs broke the concrete structure on the veranda and discovered the hidden suitcase around August of this year.

The next trial for this case is scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. on November 25.