A 20-Year-Old Who Killed a Neighbor Under the Influence of Delusions Receives 30 Years in Prison in Second Trial

Choi Seong-woo (29), who assaulted a 70-year-old neighbor at a smoking area in the same apartment complex, resulting in the neighbor's death while under the influence of delusions, could not avoid a heavy sentence in the appellate trial.

On the 21st, the Seoul High Court’s Criminal Division 12-1 (Presiding Judges Hong Ji-young, Bang Woong-hwan, Kim Min-a) sentenced Choi to 30 years in prison and 5 years of probation for charges including murder, consistent with the first trial.

The appellate court stated, "The reasons for the defendants and the prosecution's claims about the inappropriateness of sentencing have already been sufficiently considered by the court of first instance, and there are no new circumstances or changes that would warrant a different judgment," and dismissed both parties' appeals.

Claims of Reporting the Crime Not Accepted

Choi's side argued that they should be given leniency in sentencing because they reported the crime to the police immediately after it occurred, but the court did not accept this argument.

The court pointed out, "The defendant claimed that a fight broke out, but when he regained his composure, he only stated that the other person had collapsed without disclosing the objective facts of his own actions." Furthermore, the court explained, "Even if he had surrendered, it would merely be a mitigating circumstance, and the fact that the defendant reported the crime immediately after the incident allowed for timely assistance to the victim and prompt police investigation, which was already considered in the sentencing decision of the first trial."

Shocking Crime Committed Under Delusions

Choi was arrested and indicted for the assault that led to the death of Mr. A, a 70-year-old man from the same apartment complex, at a smoking area in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, around 7:50 PM on August 20th of last year.

According to the investigation, Choi was found to have committed the crime under the delusion that the victim would harm him and his mother.

Considering the seriousness of the case, the prosecution announced the disclosure of Choi's personal information, including his name, age, and photo, following a decision by the Personal Information Disclosure Deliberation Committee in September of last year.

Heavy Sentence Maintained from First Trial

The court of first instance sentenced Choi to 30 years in prison and 5 years of probation last February.

At that time, the court noted, "The defendant did not appear to show any guilt by failing to take active emergency measures or seek help from a third party after the crime and instead calmly continued smoking," and stated, "Given the defendant's actual conduct and statements during the investigative process, there is doubt as to whether he is genuinely remorseful."

However, the court took into account positive factors such as Choi generally acknowledging the objective facts, the absence of evidence indicating that he had premeditated the murder or prepared a weapon, and the fact that he had no prior criminal record. As both the defendant and the prosecution appealed against the first trial's decision, the ruling from the first trial was upheld in the second trial.

Image source: Suspect Choi Seong-woo of the murder of a neighbor in an apartment complex in Jungnang-gu, Seoul / Seoul Northern District Prosecutor's Office, Reference photos to aid in understanding the article / gettyimagesbank