Woman in Her 50s Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison for Severing Husband's Vital Body Part

Aggravated Assault Causing Serious Injury Recognized Instead of Attempted Murder
Son-in-Law Accomplice Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

A woman in her 50s who severed her husband's vital body part with a weapon has been sentenced to prison.

According to Yonhap News on January 23, the 13th Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Kim Gipung, sentenced the wife, identified as A (58), who had been detained and indicted on charges including aggravated assault causing serious injury, to seven years in prison. The court also sentenced A's son-in-law, B (40), who was indicted without detention on the same charges, to four years in prison, and A's daughter, C (37), who was partially involved in the crime, to a fine of 3 million won.

A woman in her 50s accused of amputating her husband's vital body part is entering the Incheon District Court on August 2nd last year for a pre-trial detention hearing (warrant review). Photo by Yonhap News

A was indicted and detained on charges of attempting to murder her husband, D, also in his 50s, by stabbing his face, arms, and other parts of his body 50 times with a weapon and severing his vital body part at a cafe in Ganghwa County, Incheon, around 1 a.m. on August 1 last year. Son-in-law B was accused of participating in the crime by restraining D with tape at the time. D's stepdaughter, C, was found to have participated by tracking the victim's location through a private investigator.

D was transported to the hospital by emergency responders after a report was made and underwent surgery; it is reported that his life is not in danger. During the trial, A stated that she committed the crime because of her husband's infidelity. Previously, at the sentencing hearing last month, prosecutors had sought 15 years in prison for A and 7 years for B.

The court applied the charge of aggravated assault causing serious injury to A and B instead of attempted murder. The court explained, "Although the weapon used by the defendants could endanger life, it is difficult to conclude there was intent to kill, given that they avoided fatal areas and mainly targeted the lower body and buttocks." The court added, "From the investigation stage, A consistently stated that her intention was only to sever the genitalia, not to kill, and considering that she left the scene even after noticing that the victim's restraints had loosened immediately after the crime, it is difficult to see that she anticipated death." As the charge of attempted murder was found not guilty, the prosecution's request for an electronic location tracking device (electronic anklet) was dismissed.

Regarding the sentencing, the court stated, "The defendants used a tracking device to monitor the victim's movements, trespassed, and committed a brutal crime, and failed to provide aid after the crime, all of which are extremely serious offenses." However, the court also considered that "A committed the crime impulsively after seeing a photo of her husband with another woman, is showing remorse, and has reached a settlement with the victim, who does not wish for punishment." For B, the court noted that he admitted to the assault causing serious injury and is showing remorse for his actions.