Prosecutors have demanded the maximum legal sentence of 20 years in prison for a teenager who attempted to murder a mother and her two daughters at an apartment in Wonju, Gangwon Province, last February.

During the sentencing hearing held on August 13 by the 1st Criminal Division of the Chuncheon District Court Wonju Branch (Presiding Judge Kim Ji-hyun), prosecutors requested the court to impose the maximum penalty on the 16-year-old defendant, surnamed A.

Under current laws, juvenile offenders under the age of 18 who commit specific violent crimes can face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Prosecutors also requested protective measures, including an order to complete a sexual violence treatment program, the disclosure and notification of personal information, and probation.

Defendant A was indicted and brought to trial on charges of attempted murder for allegedly swinging a weapon he had prepared in advance at a woman in her 40s, surnamed B, and her older and younger daughters, both teenagers, at an apartment in Danggu-dong, Wonju, at 9:12 AM on February 5.

Due to the attack, victim B sustained a severe injury to her neck, while the older and younger daughters suffered wounds to their right arms and shoulders.

Immediately following the crime, police responding to a neighbor's report arrested defendant A at the scene while he was hiding in a flowerbed near the apartment.

Investigations revealed that defendant A entered the building by punching in the apartment entrance password he already knew, waited in front of the victims' home, and forced his way inside as victim B stepped out.

He reportedly stated during police questioning that he committed the act because the older daughter "humiliated and ignored him at the academy."

The sentencing ruling will be handed down on August 20.

(Photo: Yonhap News)