[Herald DB]
[Herald DB]

Prosecutors have sought a heavy sentence for a woman in her 20s indicted on charges of killing her paternal grandfather.

At the closing arguments hearing for Noh, 24, held Tuesday at Seoul Northern District Court's Criminal Division 11 — presided over by Chief Judge Choi Kyung-seo — prosecutors asked the court to sentence her to 20 years in prison on charges of patricide, Yonhap reported.

Noh's defense attorney said she had been repeatedly subjected to verbal and physical abuse by her grandfather but had tried to repair the relationship by preparing meals for him and celebrating his birthday, before making a wrong choice on the day of the incident.

The attorney also asked the court to consider that Noh was remorseful and struggling, and to find her guilty of assault causing death rather than murder, saying it was difficult to conclude she had intended to kill.

In her final statement, Noh said, "I should never have done that."

"I was afraid of crime myself, yet I became the perpetrator," she said. "It is painful that the victim was my own grandfather."

"Thinking that my grandfather was an elderly man, I should have endured the conflict more, avoided it, or tried to resolve it warmly," she said. "I have committed the worst crime a person can commit, and I am deeply sorry. I will atone, and atone again, for the rest of my life."

She added, "Grandfather, I am sorry. I am so sorry."

Noh is accused of attacking her grandfather, who was in his 80s, with a bladed weapon at their home in Dapsimni-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, at around 11:50 a.m. on May 18, fatally wounding him.

He was taken to a hospital but died from his injuries.

After the attack, Noh called 119 herself and attempted CPR on her grandfather. Police later arrested her.

During the police investigation, Noh said she had been under severe stress from her relationship with her grandfather. She denied intent, saying she had killed him impulsively during an argument.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 23.

'No intent,' defense said at first hearing too

At the first hearing held July 10 before the same court division, Noh's defense acknowledged that she had wielded a weapon against her grandfather and caused his death, but argued she had no intent to kill.

Her attorney said she had inflicted injury to stop the victim's verbal and physical abuse.

Noh appeared in court wearing a light green prison uniform with a somber expression. She also indicated she did not wish to have a jury trial.

Noh's father and uncle sat in the public gallery, watching the proceedings in silence.

When the court asked about the whereabouts of Noh's grandmother at the time of the incident, her father replied that she was in a nursing facility due to dementia and was unaware of what had happened.


yul@heraldcorp.com