"No Muzzle for the Dog?" 60-Year-Old Woman Wielding a Cutter Knife... Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

[Financial News] A 60-year-old woman who chased and attacked a man with a cutter knife during a walk because his pet dog was not muzzled has been sentenced to prison in the first trial.
According to the legal community on the 29th, the 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Western District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Woo-hyun) sentenced Ms. A (65, female), who was charged with attempted murder, to 4 years in prison.
Ms. A was brought to trial on charges of attacking Mr. B with a weapon on a road in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, last December while he was walking with his pet dog. At the time, Ms. A, who was feeding stray cats, pointed out that Mr. B's dog was not muzzled and got into an argument, then followed Mr. B as he left. Ms. A then took a stationery cutter knife from her bag, chased the victim for about 30 meters, shouting "You must die," and swung the knife at the victim's neck and face. Mr. B suffered injuries requiring four weeks of treatment while trying to avoid the attack, including wounds to the face, ear, and fingers.
The court stated, "The neck is a vital part of the body, and the defendant was aware that injury could lead to death," adding, "The claim that it was merely an act to intimidate is difficult to accept." It also noted, "Considering the victim's testimony and the CCTV footage at the scene, it is judged that there was an implied intent to kill."
Ms. A's side claimed she was in a state of diminished responsibility due to bipolar disorder, but the court did not accept this, stating, "The defendant clearly recognized the circumstances and method of the attack at the time of the crime, and there was no abnormality in cognitive function."
The court criticized, "Murder is a serious crime that cannot be justified for any reason, and the victim is suffering from deep wounds and mental distress," adding, "The victim wants punishment, and the defendant's responsibility is by no means light." However, it explained the sentencing decision by considering "the defendant did not plan the crime in advance, deposited 20 million won after the incident, and has no prior similar convictions."

425_sama@fnnews.com Choi Seung-han Reporter