Public Prosecution Service seeks life imprisonment for man in his 20s who killed his girlfriend after breaking up with her

The Public Prosecution Service requested life imprisonment for a man in his 20s who was put on trial for murdering his girlfriend after she broke up with him.

At the 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Eastern District Court (Presiding Judge Go Chung-jeong) at the trial on murder charges against Mr. Wang (25), which was held on the 11th, the Seoul Eastern District Public Prosecutors' Office requested the court to sentence him to life imprisonment and impose a five-year probation order and a 20-year electronic anklet attachment order.

The Public Prosecutor's Office stated the reason for the sentence, saying, "The method of the crime was cruel, such as hitting a frying pan so hard that it was dented because his girlfriend, whom he had been dating for less than six months, broke up with him and ignored him. This crime resulted in the death of the victim, who was only 19 years old, and there is no way to recover from this."

At the same time, he said, "The defendant had previously received a suspended sentence for home invasion and rape, and committed the crime less than 10 months after the probation period expired. He should be sentenced to death, but considering the reality of law enforcement, please sentence him to life imprisonment."

On this day, the victim's father also appeared on the witness stand and said, "Nothing can comfort me from the pain of losing my only daughter in such a horrible way, and the remaining family is trembling in fear of retaliation," and appealed, "Please impose the highest sentence allowed by law and permanently isolate her from society."

The Public Prosecution Office also reported that after the incident, the victim's mother was in pain, running out barefoot because she thought she heard her daughter's voice saying she was coming home in a taxi.

Other bereaved family members also wiped away tears throughout the trial.

Mr. Wang's lawyer said, "We acknowledge the mistake that caused irreversible pain and are deeply reflecting on it," and added, "Please take into account the fact that he suffered serious brain damage as a result of being violently assaulted as a teenager and has received ongoing treatment."

Mr. Wang also read the prepared reflection and said, "I will not only reflect on this right now, but I will reflect on it every day," and "I am truly sorry to the victims and their families."

Mr. Wang is accused of killing his girlfriend in her 20s in Gangdong-gu, Seoul at around 3:30 am on June 1st using a frying pan, a weapon, and an electric wire during an argument.

According to the prosecution, Mr. Wang decided to commit the crime because the victim did not show sorry when she broke up with him.

Mr. Wang left the scene immediately after committing the crime, then surrendered himself to a police station in another area and was immediately arrested.

According to the Public Prosecution Service on this day, Mr. Wang had no intention of surrendering himself in the first place, but ended up surrendering himself after hearing an acquaintance say, "If you don't surrender, I will call 112."

The prosecution indicted Wang after revealing the circumstances of the planned murder through forensic analysis of his cell phone.

It was revealed that before committing the crime, Mr. A had searched on his cell phone for things such as ‘Head hit by a frying pan (died)’.

Mr. Wang's sentencing is scheduled to take place on the morning of the 11th of next month.