The prosecution has demanded life imprisonment for Cho Jae-bok, who brutally assaulted and killed his mother-in-law for hours before hiding her body in a suitcase and abandoning it.

During the final sentencing hearing held by the 13th Criminal Division of the Daegu District Court, the prosecution asked the court to sentence Cho to life imprisonment on charges including murder and special heavy confinement resulting in injury.

The prosecution stated, "This case is a bizarre crime that defied natural human ethics, and it took place in the middle of a major city," adding, "We request that Cho Jae-bok be sentenced to life imprisonment, along with 30 years of electronic monitoring and 35 years of probation."

The prosecution explained the reasoning behind the sentencing demand, noting, "It is a brutal crime in which he beat his mother-in-law to death. The attack took place over a long period, and he proceeded with the murder without hesitation even as the victim and her daughter pleaded and suffered in agony."

In particular, the prosecution emphasized that it was a crime against human ethics, forcing a daughter to witness her mother, who had come to protect her, lose her life right before her eyes.

In his final statement, Cho Jae-bok said, "I am truly sorry to my mother-in-law and my wife, and I won't do it again from now on," adding, "I will not commit such acts again and will live a good life."

Cho was previously put on trial for assaulting his 50-something mother-in-law, victim A, for over 10 hours at a studio apartment in Jung-gu, Daegu, on March 17, causing her death, and then placing her body in a suitcase and abandoning it near the Sincheon stream.

He reportedly told investigative authorities that his motives for the crime included being annoyed because she was making noise and because she had not organized luggage.

In addition, Cho faces charges of habitual assault, surveillance, and other abuses against both victim A and his wife, victim B.

During previous trial sessions, Cho denied any intent to commit murder, claiming, "I truly had no intention of killing my mother-in-law," and "I did not know that beating her to this extent would cause her to die."

The sentencing hearing for Cho is scheduled to be held on October 15.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Kim Min-ji | Graphics by Lee Su-min | Produced by SBS Digital News