A 50-Year-Old Who Caused the Death of His 70s Older Sister Who Also Took Care of His Children... What Is the Sentence?

Suwon High Court Upholds 17-Year Prison Sentence in Appeal Trial

A man in his 50s, who was charged with brutally beating his 70-year-old older sister to death?a sister who had provided him with a residence despite his unemployment and even raised his children?was sentenced to a heavy prison term again in the appellate court.

On the 28th, Yonhap News reported that the Criminal Division 2-2 of Suwon High Court (Presiding Judges Kim Jong-woo, Park Kwang-seo, Kim Min-gi) upheld the original sentence in the appellate trial of Mr. A, in his 50s, who was charged with murder and sentenced to 17 years in prison in the first trial. Mr. A was prosecuted for allegedly using a blunt weapon to assault his 70-year-old sister, Ms. B, at her residence on the night of May 5, resulting in her death.

Suwon District Court, Suwon High Court exterior. Photo by Yonhap News

At the time, Mr. A demanded that Ms. B return 4 million won he had entrusted to her, but when the victim responded, "Where is the money you entrusted to me?" and said she did not know the whereabouts of the money, he committed the crime. Mr. A, who had no particular occupation, had been living together at Ms. B’s house. It was also reported that Ms. B had been raising Mr. A’s minor children. Mr. A and Ms. B were known to have a poor relationship, frequently arguing over financial matters, and on the day of the incident, they had a dispute that led to police intervention to separate them.

Immediately after the crime, Mr. A went to the police station and stated, "I hit Ms. B and covered her with a blanket, but I don’t know if she died." The first trial court sentenced Mr. A to 17 years in prison. At that time, the court explained the sentencing by saying, "This crime is a heinous act of filial impiety and is highly condemnable," and "The defendant’s method of committing the crime was cruel, and the victim’s son testified that the defendant never entrusted 4 million won to the victim and pleaded for severe punishment, which was considered an unfavorable factor." The defendant also showed a lack of remorse, expressing that Ms. B’s death was "a good early departure." The prosecution appealed, arguing that the sentence was too lenient and unjust. The appellate court stated the reason for dismissing the appeal, saying, "Even considering the circumstances claimed by the prosecution, the original sentence appears to have been made within a reasonable range."