Murdered Mistress and Desecrated Body... Chinese Defendant Receives Heavier Sentence on Appeal

Attempted arson to destroy evidence
Sentence increased from 22 years in first trial to 25 years on appeal

A Chinese man in his 50s (ethnic Korean) who murdered his mistress, then desecrated her body and tried to burn it to destroy the remains, has received a heavier sentence on appeal than in the first trial.

The Criminal Division 3 of the Suwon High Court, presided over by High Court Judge Kim Jonggi, overturned the original ruling in the appeal trial of Mr. A (57), who was charged with murder, desecration of a corpse, attempted arson of an inhabited building, and gas release, and sentenced him to 25 years in prison, Yonhap News reported on the 7th. The first-instance court had previously sentenced Mr. A to 22 years in prison.

Mr. A was indicted on charges of murdering victim B, a Chinese national in his 50s, at his residence in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, in April last year. When B said, "If you do not give me money, I will reveal our affair to your wife," Mr. A became enraged and repeatedly struck B's face and forehead with a glass tumbler, killing him. Mr. A is also accused of desecrating the corpse while wiping bloodstains from the body afterward.

Immediately after the crime, Mr. A left his residence and threw both his and B's mobile phones away by a riverside. It was confirmed that he then divided the tissues and other items used to wipe B's blood into plastic bags and shopping bags and discarded them in multiple locations. He is also charged with attempting to destroy B's body by burning it: he opened the gas valve in his house and tried to ignite a fire, but the attempt failed as the flame went out before the gas could spread.

The appellate court stated, "The defendant murdered the victim, with whom he was having an affair, in a cruel manner by repeatedly striking the victim's face and head after the victim threatened to expose the relationship," and added, "Afterward, at his own residence where the body was located, he released gas and even attempted to ignite tissue paper. This conduct was not only aimed at destroying the corpse and other evidence but also placed many lives at risk." The court continued, "The bereaved family is pleading for severe punishment, saying they are suffering extreme shock and pain," and explained the reason for overturning the original ruling by stating, "Considering all the circumstances, the sentence in the first trial is deemed unduly lenient and therefore unjustified."