Man in His 30s Sentenced to 6 Years and 8 Months in Prison on Appeal for Fatal DUI Hit-and-Run

A man in his 30s who fatally struck a pedestrian while driving under the influence and then fled the scene has been sentenced to prison in his appeal trial as well.

On July 12, the Jeonju District Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Kim Sanggon) announced that it had dismissed both the prosecution's and the defendant's appeals in the appellate trial of Mr. A (34), who was indicted for violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (hit-and-run causing death, dangerous driving causing death) and the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving). The court upheld the original sentence of six years and eight months in prison.

The court stated, "The defendant drove a vehicle while intoxicated to the extent that normal driving was impossible and struck the victim, who was standing on the shoulder of the road, yet fled the scene without providing any aid." The court added, "The victim lost his precious life, and the bereaved family is suffering immense pain." Furthermore, the court noted, "No agreement has been reached between the defendant and the victim's family," and explained, "Considering various sentencing factors, it is difficult to see the original sentence as exceeding the bounds of judicial discretion."

Mr. A was brought to trial on charges of fatally striking pedestrian Mr. B (then 40 years old), who was standing by the roadside in Wansan-gu, Jeonju, at around 11:30 p.m. on June 19 last year, while driving in a heavily intoxicated state (blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or higher, which is grounds for license revocation). After the accident, he went straight home without offering any aid, and was apprehended at the scene by police who responded to a witness report.