A 40-something Filipino man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for stabbing and killing a coworker during an argument.

The Supreme Court's Third Division, led by Justice Lee Sook-yeon, recently finalized the lower court's ruling against Defendant, a 41-year-old Filipino national indicted on murder charges.

Defendant was indicted for stabbing and killing a 36-year-old Filipino coworker, B, during a dispute at a villa in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, in the early hours of December 1 of last year.

The argument broke out after Defendant came to be suspected by B of having reported B to the dormitory manager for causing a disturbance while drinking about a week prior.

Investigations revealed that Defendant subsequently bought a weapon and carried it whenever going out, out of concern that he might be threatened by B.

It was found that on the day of the crime, another argument erupted after Defendant was accused of speaking ill of B, leading to the murder.

The first instance court stated, "The defendant brutally murdered the victim, a fellow worker, using a weapon he had prepared and carried in advance during an argument. Given the methods, means, and outcome of the crime, his culpability is extremely grave," sentencing Defendant to 20 years in prison.

The court added, "The victim is believed to have met his end in extreme agony due to the defendant's attack, and the victim's bereaved family, living far away overseas, will also have to live with immeasurable pain for the rest of their lives."

Following the second instance court, the Supreme Court also ruled that there were no errors in this judgment and dismissed Defendant's appeal.

Reported by Park Se-won | Video by Kim Na-on | Graphics by Yook Do-hyun | Produced by SBS Digital News