Defendant contests first-instance ruling; prosecutors also expected to appeal

Actor Nana. [Yonhap]
Actor Nana. [Yonhap]

A man in his 30s sentenced to seven years in prison for breaking into actor Nana's home and attacking her and her mother has filed an appeal against the ruling.

According to legal sources Thursday, the defendant, identified only by his surname Kim, submitted an appeal to the court Wednesday, contesting the first-instance verdict that handed him a seven-year prison term on charges including robbery causing bodily harm.

The first criminal division of the Namyangju branch of Uijeongbu District Court handed down the sentence at a hearing on June 9. Prosecutors, who had sought a 10-year term, argued at the final trial session that "the severity of the crime is grave, the defendant shows no remorse, and no agreement has been reached with the victims." Prosecutors are also expected to appeal on grounds that the sentence is too lenient.

Kim was indicted on charges of breaking into Nana's residence in Acheon-dong, Guri, Gyeonggi Province, at around 6 a.m. on Nov. 15 last year, threatening her and her mother with a weapon and attempting to extort money from them.

Nana and her mother managed to subdue Kim after a physical struggle and called police. Nana, her mother and Kim all sustained injuries in the altercation.

After his arrest, Kim filed a complaint against Nana for attempted murder and aggravated assault, claiming he had also been hurt. Police ruled that Nana had acted in self-defense and declined to refer the case to prosecutors.

At trial, Kim admitted to unlawfully entering the residence and attempting to steal but denied the robbery charges. He repeatedly insisted he had not carried a weapon and that Nana's side had been the first to brandish one. He also testified that Nana had tried to persuade him to tell police he had brought a weapon, offering 40 million won (about $26,300) to cover his mother's medical bills.

The court rejected Kim's claims.

"The defendant broke into the victims' home — a place that must be kept absolutely safe — while armed with a weapon," the court said in its ruling. "Given the gravity of the offense, a commensurate punishment is unavoidable."

Shortly after the verdict, Nana posted a brief message on Instagram. "Multiple trials brought by a criminal. Consistent lies. No remorse. No forgiveness," she wrote.


jshan@heraldcorp.com