Husband Who Survived Alone After Wife's Brain Tumor Request Sentenced to Prison with Probation

Husband Sentenced to 3 Years Imprisonment and 5 Years Probation for Assisted Suicide Crime

A husband who survived alone after attempting to die together with his wife following her brain tumor diagnosis was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

The Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 2 (Chief Judge Kim Seong-rae) sentenced Mr. A (73), who was detained and indicted on charges of murder (assisted suicide), to three years in prison with a five-year suspension, Yonhap News reported on the 30th.

Chuncheon District Court

Mr. A was put on trial for killing his wife, Mrs. B (72), after agreeing to die together at her request on May 8. Investigations revealed that since 2017, Mrs. B had frequently fallen for unknown reasons, resulting in broken legs and a continuous decline in vision. However, she refused to visit the hospital, so the exact diagnosis was never confirmed. Over time, starting around 2022, the frequency of her falls increased, and from December 2023, her condition worsened to the point where she could hardly move on her own. Eventually, Mrs. B became unable to carry out daily activities without Mr. A’s assistance.

Ultimately, Mrs. B was diagnosed with a brain tumor on May 7. The next day, experiencing severe pain due to deteriorating health, she asked Mr. A to die together, and they attempted to do so. However, Mr. A survived, while Mrs. B died from poisoning by toxic substances. Subsequently, Mr. A was detained and indicted on charges of assisted suicide.

The court stated, "Even if the defendant committed the crime at the victim’s request, the act of taking a precious life in this case is by no means a light offense," but also considered the long marriage, the wife’s request, the children’s plea for leniency, and the defendant’s advanced age and health condition.

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