Man in 60s Sentenced to Prison for Fatally Beating Patient in Same Hospital Ward

▲ Cheongju District Court Chungju Branch

A man in his 60s has been sentenced to a heavy prison term for beating a fellow patient to death at a psychiatric hospital in North Chungcheong Province.

The 1st Criminal Division of the Cheongju District Court's Chungju Branch (Presiding Judge Bin Tae-wook) sentenced A, a 69-year-old man indicted on charges including fatal assault, to six years in prison today (October 15).

A is accused of knocking down a man in his 70s, identified as B, who was a patient in the same ward at a psychiatric hospital in Eumseong County last August, and repeatedly kicking him in the head, resulting in his death.

Investigation showed that A committed the crime after getting into an argument with B because B was lying on A's bed.

During the trial, A's defense counsel argued that "the defendant is reflecting on his wrongdoings and suffers from a mental illness, making treatment more necessary than punishment."

However, the court stated, "Taking into account the grave nature of the crime, his multiple prior convictions for violence, the fact that he committed another crime during a probationary or repeat-offense period, and that he failed to reach a settlement with the bereaved family, the sentence was determined."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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