Prosecutors have requested a prison sentence for a man in his 50s who attempted to murder his nephew by setting him on fire during a dispute over inheritance with his older sister.

During the final hearing held today (July 20) at the Incheon District Court's Bucheon Branch, presided over by Judge Na Sang-hoon of the 1st Criminal Division, prosecutors requested a seven-year prison term for the defendant, identified as A, who was indicted on charges including attempted murder.

The prosecution did not provide specific reasons for the requested sentence.

In his closing argument, A's defense attorney stated, "The charge of attempted murder lacks sufficient proof of the crime, so we ask for an acquittal," adding, "Regarding the charge of arson of a general building, we ask for leniency, considering that the defendant is deeply reflecting on his actions and that there are mitigating circumstances regarding the motive for the crime."

A also stated, "The entire investigation was conducted based only on the victim's account, despite the lack of concrete evidence for the attempted murder charge," and added, "I know I committed a crime, and I will accept the punishment for the crimes I have committed."

A was indicted while under arrest for allegedly beating his nephew B, who is in his 20s, at his sister's home in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, on December 13 of last year, and then attempting to kill him by pouring an accelerant purchased at a gas station and setting it on fire.

It was determined that he committed the act after a long-standing conflict with his sister over the inheritance of their deceased parents' estate, and subsequently returned to his own home in Gimpo and set it on fire.

A was in a state of severe intoxication at the time of the incident.

Throughout the trial, he claimed, "I do not remember much because I was drunk at the time and suffer from a chronic cerebrovascular disease."

(Photo: Yonhap News)