Testified to "Past Dispute with Victim's Older Sister"
Indicted and Detained on Charges of Aggravated Murder under the Special Act
A man in his 30s who consecutively murdered his stepbrother and a female convenience store employee in the neighborhood has been arrested and indicted. It has been determined that he committed the retaliatory murders due to a grudge stemming from a past assault dispute at the convenience store, which had been reported to the police. Although the man had no prior acquaintance with the female victim, it was revealed that he mistook her for the victim's older sister, who had previously worked part-time at the convenience store.
In front of a convenience store in Siheung-si, Gyeonggi Province, there are notes with memorial messages, bouquets of chrysanthemums, and snacks placed. Photo by Yonhap News
According to Yonhap News Agency, on the 12th, the Criminal Division 2 of the Ansan Branch of Suwon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Lee Se-hee) indicted Mr. A on the 10th on charges including retaliatory murder under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. Mr. A is accused of killing his stepbrother Mr. B with a weapon at his home in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province, at around 6:50 p.m. on the 12th of last month, and then, 10 minutes later, going to a nearby convenience store about a 2-minute walk away and killing a female employee in her 20s, Ms. C.
At the time, Mr. A entered the convenience store wielding a weapon and indiscriminately attacked Ms. C, who was behind the counter, according to investigations. There were two customers in the store, but the crime was committed without anyone being able to intervene. Police who responded to a witness report arrested Mr. A on the street about 50 minutes later as a suspect caught in the act. Ms. C, who was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest immediately after being stabbed, ultimately passed away at 8:50 p.m. on the 13th, just one day after treatment.
Initially, the case was forwarded on charges including murder, but based on Mr. A’s confession and other evidence, the prosecution applied the charge of retaliatory murder under the Special Act, which carries a heavier sentence than murder.
During police investigations, Mr. A admitted to the charges, stating, "I was so angry," but consistently said he did not know why he was angry and could not remember the details of the incident. However, during the prosecution’s investigation, he reportedly stated that he suddenly recalled a past incident where he had a dispute and was reported to the police for assault involving the older sister of Ms. C, who had worked part-time at the convenience store, and committed the crime on that basis.
It is understood that Mr. A reached a settlement with Ms. C’s older sister, so the sister was not prosecuted. Subsequently, it was reported that Mr. A mistook Ms. C for her older sister at the time of the crime.
A prosecution official explained, "At first, the suspect was in an extreme state of agitation and could not provide a proper motive statement, but after some time passed and his mental state calmed down, he appeared to disclose this information."
Mr. A was diagnosed with a mental illness in April last year and had been repeatedly hospitalized and discharged. It is known that he did not take the prescribed medication as directed. Additionally, he was unemployed, mostly stayed at home, and had very little interaction with others.
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