Image for illustrative purposes [123RF]
Image for illustrative purposes [123RF]

Prosecutors have sought a prison term for a high school student who stabbed a teacher in a premeditated attack rooted in grievances from his middle school years.

At a closing hearing Wednesday before the first criminal division of the Daejeon District Court's Nonsan branch, presided over by Chief Judge Oh Myeong-hui, prosecutors asked the court to sentence the 17-year-old defendant, identified only as A, to an indeterminate term of two years and six months to four years in prison on charges of attempted murder.

Under the Juvenile Act, offenders under the age of 19 may receive an indeterminate sentence with both a minimum and maximum term.

A is accused of stabbing a male teacher in his 30s, identified as B, multiple times with a knife at a high school in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, at around 8:44 a.m. on April 13, in an attempt to kill him.

A had harbored resentment toward B since middle school, believing the teacher had singled him out for harsher criticism and scolding than other students.

When B transferred to the same high school and was again in a position to supervise A, the student began refusing to attend. In the week before the attack, A had been commuting to an alternative school in another city.

Investigators found that A had planned the attack in advance, bringing a knife to school in his bag on the day of the incident.

The prosecutor said the offense was serious given that A had stabbed a teacher with a knife, but added that it was his first offense and that he had reached a settlement with B.

A, who admitted to all charges from the first hearing, said in his final statement that his actions had caused the teacher pain and pledged never to resort to violence again, saying he would resolve conflicts through dialogue.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 7.


husn7@heraldcorp.com