A man in his 30s has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for murdering an 80-year-old acquaintance after being scolded for stealing money from the victim's wallet.
According to legal circles on July 9, the Third Division of the Supreme Court (Justice Roh Kyung-pil presiding) upheld the lower court's ruling, which sentenced A (38) to 20 years in prison on charges including murder and violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (theft).
The order for A to wear an electronic tracking device for 10 years was also maintained.
A was indicted for throwing objects and beating B (80) in the face and chest with his fists and feet at B's villa in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on March 2 of last year, resulting in the victim's death.
A had been playing Hwatu (a traditional Korean card game) with B and A's mother when he stole 50,000 won from B's wallet.
Investigations revealed that A committed the crime in a fit of rage after B confronted him, saying, "Why did you steal it? I am going to report you to 112 (the police)."
A was also charged with stealing B's debit card in November 2024 and using it to pay for expenses such as alcohol, totaling approximately 850,000 won.
The prosecution had requested a life sentence for A.
The first trial court sentenced A to 30 years in prison, stating, "Considering the situation at the time of the crime, it appears the defendant was aware that his actions could lead to the victim's death."
However, the second trial court reduced the sentence to 20 years, noting, "It does not appear that the defendant planned to murder the victim, but rather committed the crime impulsively in a moment of anger during an argument."
A appealed the decision, but the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal, finding no errors in the lower court's judgment.
(Photo: Yonhap News)