Man Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison for Murdering Mother-in-Law and Abandoning Body in Carrier

[Anchor]

Cho Jae-bok, who was charged with murdering his mother-in-law last March and abandoning her body in a travel carrier, has been sentenced to 45 years in prison in the first trial. Pointing out that it is difficult to find any sense of remorse, the court also stopped Cho when he let out a loud sigh during the trial, telling him, "Just listen."

Reporter Lee Se-hyeon has the details.

[Reporter]

The Daegu District Court sentenced Cho Jae-bok, who was indicted and detained on charges including parricide, to 45 years in prison and ordered him to wear an electronic tracking device for 30 years today (October 15).

Cho has been on trial for five months on charges of beating his mother-in-law in her 50s to death at an officetel in Jung-gu, Daegu, last March, and then putting her body in a carrier and abandoning it near a stream.

The crime stemmed from his grievances that she was noisy and failed to tidy up items.

Cho is also accused of subjecting his wife and mother-in-law to brutal acts, including physical assault and surveillance.

It was reported that at the time of her death, Cho's mother-in-law had sustained injuries all over her body, including fractured ribs on both sides resulting from long-term abuse.

During today's court proceedings, as the judge was reading the criminal facts written in the verdict, Cho let out a loud sigh, prompting the court to intervene by saying, "Defendant, just listen."

Previously, the prosecution had sought a life sentence, stating, "Even taking Cho's developmental disability into consideration, it is difficult to correct his violent tendencies."

The court explained the sentencing reasons, stating, "While it is difficult to conclude 100% that there is no room for his character to improve through long-term imprisonment and treatment, parricide is an anti-social crime that not only violates a person's life but also betrays the trust within the family and community."

It added, "It is hard to find any sense of remorse or sympathy for the victims, and while the defendant has submitted multiple letters of reflection, it is questionable whether that reflection is genuine."

(Video Editing: Ahn Ye-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.