Prosecutors Seek 25-Year Prison Sentence in Appeal for 80-Year-Old Who Killed Wife on Lunar New Year

Prosecutors have requested a heavy prison sentence in the appellate trial for an 80-year-old man who stabbed his wife of 50 years to death on Lunar New Year's Day.
During the final hearing for the murder case held on July 15 at the Gwangju High Court Jeonju Branch (presided by Judge Jung Moon-kyung), prosecutors asked the court to sentence the defendant, identified as A (80), to 25 years in prison.
In response, the defense attorney argued, "The defendant admits to all charges and is deeply reflecting on his actions," adding, "Please consider that the crime was committed impulsively while under the influence of alcohol and grant a lenient sentence."
In his final statement, A briefly remarked, "What can a sinner say?" and added, "Please show some leniency."
A was sentenced to 12 years in prison in the first trial for hitting his wife (68) with a soju bottle and stabbing her to death at their home in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, at 11:38 a.m. on February 17, which was Lunar New Year's Day.
At the time, he called his son to confess that he had "killed your mother" before being arrested by police who arrived at the scene.
It was revealed that A committed the crime out of suspicion of infidelity by his wife, who had been devotedly responsible for the family's livelihood for over 48 years.
He had a history of physical and verbal abuse, often becoming obsessed with the delusion that his wife was seeing other men whenever he drank.
While A had previously stated during the first trial that he planned to submit a petition from his family requesting leniency as a sentencing document, his attorney stated on this day, "The family has not visited the defendant in prison, so it appears difficult to submit such a document."
The sentencing hearing for A's appeal is scheduled for August 19.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.