Prosecutors Seek 30-Year Prison Term for Intoxicated Passenger Who Dragged Designated Driver to Death

Prosecutors have demanded a heavy prison sentence in the appeal trial of a man in his 30s who pushed a designated driver out of a vehicle while heavily intoxicated and drove with the driver hanging on, resulting in death.

During the appellate trial for A (36), held yesterday (September 1) before the 3rd Criminal Division of the Daejeon High Court (Presiding Judge Kim Byeong-sik), prosecutors requested the court to "sentence the defendant to 30 years in prison."

A was indicted on charges of murder and other offenses for pushing B (in his 60s), the designated driver who was driving him, out of the driver's seat on a road in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, at around 1:30 a.m. on November 14 of last year, and driving for about 1.5 kilometers for roughly 1 minute and 40 seconds with B clinging to the vehicle, ultimately causing B's death.

At the time, A was in a heavily intoxicated state with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.152%. He repeatedly accelerated suddenly and sharply turned the steering wheel, causing the vehicle to crash into guardrails and curbs.

Investigations also revealed that A flew into a rage and assaulted and swore at B because B did not carefully navigate over speed bumps.

While A denied any intent to commit murder, claiming that he could not remember due to intoxication, the first-instance court sentenced him to 13 years in prison, stating that "oblique intent is recognized."

In response, the prosecution appealed on the grounds that the sentence was too lenient, while A appealed that it was too severe, leading to yesterday's appellate trial.

A stated, "I sincerely apologize to the victim, who passed away in agony due to my irreversible wrongdoing, and to the bereaved families living with this trauma. I accept my crimes and will live the rest of my life in genuine atonement."

The victim's legal representative said, "Because of this incident, the victim lost his life, and the bereaved family lost their only parent. The family's only hope is for the court to strictly punish the defendant."

The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 13.

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