Another Preventable Tragedy: Wife Murdered Despite Restraining Order

[Anchor]

A man in his 70s has been arrested in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, on charges of murdering his wife, despite being under a court-issued restraining order for domestic violence and stalking. Although he was classified as a high-risk offender, police are facing heavy criticism for their lax response, having failed to check the scene even when they could not reach the victim around the estimated time of the crime.

Reporter Lee Jung-min from JTV.

[Reporter]

An apartment complex in Jeonju.

Forensic investigators are seen leaving the scene one after another following an on-site inspection.

[(What was found? Was the weapon recovered?) ......]

A woman in her 60s living in this apartment was found dead at around 5:00 p.m. the day before yesterday.

Her coworker, who found it suspicious that she failed to show up for work and could not be reached, visited her home and reported it to the police.

[Police Official: A report came in from that apartment around 17:00. A report stating that bloodstains were found...]

The suspect was the woman's husband, a man in his 70s surnamed A.

Mr. A had committed a total of eight offenses, including domestic violence and stalking, against his wife—with whom he had been in conflict over a divorce lawsuit since last April—and was under a court-issued restraining order.

Consequently, the police managed Mr. A as a "high-risk offender," but did not take measures such as attaching a location-tracking electronic device.

In addition, the police classified the victim as a subject for safety measures, making regular phone calls once a week to check on her well-being. It was confirmed that on the day of the incident, specifically around 5:43 p.m.—the estimated time of the crime—they failed to reach the victim but did not take additional measures such as dispatching personnel to the scene.

This is why critics point out that the police missed the golden time that could have prevented the crime.

[Police Official: Investigators are also required to periodically check on the safety of the victim. But it seems there was a case where they could not get in touch with the victim.]

The police claimed that they had offered a smart watch and recommended staying at a shelter, but the victim declined all of them.

(Camera Reporter: Jung Hee-do from JTV, Design: Won So-jung from JTV)

Lee Jung-min, JTV
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.