Terminal Liver Cancer Patient Dies After Stabbing Attack... "Is It Murder or Not?"

Prosecution Demands Heavy Sentence in Appeal Trial
Insists on Applying Murder Charge for Death of Terminal Cancer Patient After Stabbing

In connection with the case where a terminal liver cancer patient died about two months after being stabbed with a weapon, the prosecution demanded a heavy sentence in the appeal trial, insisting on applying the charge of murder.

On the 11th, Yonhap News reported, citing the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office, that during the appeal trial of Nam Mo (70), who was indicted on charges of attempted murder at the Criminal Division 2 of the Gwangju High Court (Presiding Judge Lee Eui-young), the prosecution requested the court to "apply the charge of murder and sentence him to 15 years in prison."

Gwangju High Court. Yonhap News

The prosecution argued, "Due to Nam's attack, the victim sustained stab wounds on multiple parts of the body, and because the victim could not properly receive chemotherapy treatment while treating the stab wounds, he eventually died," adding, "The median survival period for the victim's liver cancer was estimated to be 8 to 10 months, but he died about two months after the incident, so Nam's assault is considered the decisive factor in the victim's death."

Nam's defense attorney appealed for leniency, stating, "The cause of the victim's death is recorded as natural causes, and the victim died after being discharged following treatment for the stab wounds, so there is no strict proof for the charge of murder," and requested consideration of the fact that "Nam committed the crime in a state of diminished mental capacity due to schizophrenia."

The second trial sentencing for Nam is scheduled for April 1. Previously, Nam was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the first trial for stabbing and killing a 60-year-old street vendor A, who was selling fruit near the bus terminal in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, multiple times with a weapon in the morning of May last year.

At the time of the incident, A was a stage 4 liver cancer patient who sustained stab wounds to his organs and other areas, which worsened his condition, and he died in June last year. Nam, whose schizophrenia symptoms worsened due to not taking medication at the time of the incident, wielded the weapon against A, whom he did not know, and also assaulted A with fists and feet.

A, who sustained stab wounds to his organs and other areas, was transported to the hospital and his life was preserved, but his stage 4 liver cancer worsened, and he died in June last year.

The prosecution changed the indictment to apply the charge of "murder" instead of "attempted murder," concluding that A died because he could not receive proper liver cancer treatment due to the stab wounds.

The first trial court stated, "Although it is suspected that Nam's crime influenced the victim's death, it seems difficult to recognize a causal relationship for murder," and did not accept the charge. However, the first trial court said, "Despite inflicting great pain on an innocent victim by wielding a weapon, Nam justified his crime and did not apologize, so a sentence close to murder is imposed."