Served 15 Years for Robbery and Murder in 1998
Killed Acquaintance Over 4.1 Million Won Debt Dispute
The Supreme Court has finalized the original verdict of 13 years in prison and 10 years of electronic anklet monitoring for a repeat offender convicted of robbery and murder, who stabbed and killed an acquaintance during an argument over debt.
According to the legal community on July 31, the Supreme Court's Second Division (presiding justice Oh Kyungmi) upheld the lower court's ruling, sentencing Jung to 13 years in prison and ordering 10 years of electronic location tracking, on charges of murder.
Jung was brought to trial on charges of stabbing and killing a man in his 30s, an acquaintance, at his home in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, in August of last year. It was found that Jung had lent the victim 4.1 million won, but when the victim delayed repayment, an argument escalated into a physical fight, ultimately resulting in murder.
Jung had previously been sentenced to 15 years in prison for robbery and murder in 1998 and was released in 2013.
The first trial court stated, "Despite having been previously punished for robbery and murder, the defendant has committed another murder," and "He appears to have a disregard for the value of life," sentencing him to 15 years in prison and 10 years of electronic anklet monitoring.
However, the appeals court reduced the sentence to 13 years, stating, "It appears the defendant committed the crime impulsively and has since admitted to and reflected on his actions." Regarding the electronic anklet order, the court said, "There is no reason to overturn the original judgment," and found the first trial's decision appropriate.
Jung appealed, claiming the sentence was too severe, but the Supreme Court found no error in the lower court's decision and dismissed the appeal, finalizing the sentence.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
