| A view of the Daegu High Court. The court provides it. |
A man in his 30s, who was sentenced to life in prison for attempting to sexually assault and subsequently killing a woman in her 70s working at a motel, has received a 40-year prison sentence on appeal.
On the 17th, the second criminal division of the Daegu High Court (Judge Jeong Seung Kyu) broke the original verdict. It sentenced the criminal, who was indicted on charges of rape and murder under the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence, to 40 years in prison. The court also mandated him to wear a location-tracking device for 30 years, imposed employment restrictions at child-related institutions for ten years, and required the public disclosure of his personal information for the same duration.
The criminal is accused of attempting to sexually assault and kill Ms. B, a woman in her 70s working at a motel in Daegu, where he had been staying for a long time, on September 21st last year. He was arrested by the police the next day at another motel where he was hiding.
On December 22nd last year, the 11th criminal division of the Daegu District Court (Judge Lee Jong Gil) sentenced the criminal to life in prison.
The first instance court stated, “The criminal brutally killed a victim he did not know after luring her into a room. When she resisted, he killed her. The crime was brutal, and the outcome was tragic.” and “Murder can never be tolerated under any circumstances.”
The court also pointed out that the criminal has a record of 13 counts of unique threats, theft, and assault. It said, “We strive to uphold social stability and order by preventing criminals from reintegrating into society. Despite the possibility of parole after 20 years of a life sentence, we have mandated using a location tracking device and other measures to ensure accountability.”
The appellate court also said, “The defendant, who was unfamiliar with the elderly victim, committed the heinous act resulting in a tragic outcome. Given the severity of the case, strict punishment is warranted. The defendant has shown no effort to rectify the harm, and the bereaved family is urging for severe consequences.”
However, the court elaborated, “The crime appears to have been somewhat impulsive, likely influenced by alcohol rather than deliberate. There is no indication that he meticulously planned the crime from the outset. Additionally, given his lack of prior sexual offenses, the original sentence seems unduly harsh and unfair.”
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