Man in His 50s Sentenced to 18 Years for Murdering Wife During Divorce Proceedings in Front of Son

The Cheongju District Court, presided over by Judge Han Sang-won of the 22nd Criminal Division, sentenced a man in his 50s, identified as A, to 18 years in prison today (July 16) for murdering his wife with a weapon in front of their son while they were in the midst of divorce proceedings.

A is charged with stabbing his wife, B (in her 50s), to death on a road in Chilseong-myeon, Goesan-gun, on January 29 at 5:55 p.m.

While traveling in a vehicle with their son, who is in his 20s, to a dinner location, A got into an argument with B. He pulled the vehicle over into an empty lot, and after getting out with B, he continued the dispute before attacking her with a weapon.

A committed the crime in a fit of rage after B rejected his request to reconcile.

A claimed that he had only brandished the weapon to intimidate B, and that she had been stabbed accidentally when she grabbed his arm while in an agitated state.

However, Judge Han ruled, "Considering the physical disparity between the defendant and B, it is difficult to accept that B sustained such deep wounds even if the defendant had pulled his arm in the opposite direction."

The judge added, "The psychological trauma suffered by the son who was present at the scene is also expected to be significant," but noted, "The sentence was determined by taking into account that the defendant committed the crime impulsively."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.