A staged image depicting domestic violence [Getty Images Bank]
A staged image depicting domestic violence [Getty Images Bank]

A man in his 80s who killed his wife while consumed by delusions that she was having an affair has had his 12-year prison sentence upheld on appeal.

The First Criminal Division of the Gwangju High Court's Jeonju bench, presided over by Chief Judge Jeong Mun-gyeong, dismissed appeals by both the prosecution and the defendant Wednesday, upholding the original 12-year sentence for the man, identified only as A, 80, who was indicted on charges of murder.

The court said A had killed a spouse with whom he had shared his life for many years and had repeatedly made threatening remarks and gestures throughout their marriage. "The defendant not only killed a partner he had spent many years with, but also frequently made threatening remarks and gestures during their married life," the court said.

The court also rejected A's claim that he had acted impulsively while drunk. "The defendant argues that he committed the crime impulsively while intoxicated, but even taking all such circumstances into account, the original sentence does not appear unduly harsh," the court said in dismissing the appeal.

A was indicted on charges of beating his wife, identified only as B, 68, with a soju bottle and then stabbing her to death at their home in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province, at around 11:38 a.m. on Feb. 17 — the seollal holiday.

Immediately after the killing, A called his son and told him, "I killed your mother," and was subsequently arrested by police who responded to the scene.

During the investigation, it emerged that A had suspected his wife — who had supported the family financially for 48 years — of seeing another man.

He was also reported to fall into delusional jealousy about his wife's alleged infidelity whenever he drank, at times turning violent or verbally abusive toward her.


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