University Student Accused of Stabbing Grandfather with a Weapon; Prosecutors Seek 20-Year Prison Sentence

[Financial News] A 20-year prison sentence was sought for a university student who was indicted for allegedly killing her paternal grandfather. Prosecutors charged her with parricide, but the defense argued that she had no intent to kill and asked the court to apply the charge of causing death by injury.
According to legal sources on the 15th, prosecutors asked the court to sentence Noh, 24, to 20 years in prison at the final hearing in her parricide trial, held that morning before the 11th Criminal Division of the Seoul Northern District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Choi Gyeong-seo.
Noh’s defense attorney emphasized that she had no intent to kill at the time of the incident and appealed to the court to apply the offense of causing death by injury.
The attorney argued, "Although Noh was repeatedly exposed to the victim’s verbal and physical abuse, she tried to restore their relationship by preparing meals and celebrating his birthday. She made the wrong choice on the day of the incident." The attorney continued, "Considering that it is difficult to conclude she had an intent to kill and that she is remorseful for her actions, please find her guilty of causing death by injury."
Parricide applies when a person kills a lineal ascendant of themselves or their spouse, and is punishable by death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for at least seven years. By contrast, causing death by injury applies when a person inflicts injury that results in death, and carries a statutory sentence of at least three years of fixed-term imprisonment.
Noh also pleaded for leniency in her final statement. She said, "I should never have done that. I was afraid of crime myself, yet I became the perpetrator, and it is painful that the victim was my own grandfather." She continued, "If I had remembered that my grandfather was elderly, I should have endured the conflict longer, avoided him, or tried to resolve it more gently. I am sorry for committing the worst crime an individual can commit. I will atone and atone again until the day I die." She then repeatedly apologized, saying, "Grandfather, I am sorry. I am sorry once again."
Noh was indicted and detained on charges of stabbing her grandfather, who was in his 80s, with a kitchen knife at his home in Dapsimni-dong, Dongdaemun District, Seoul, at around 11:50 a.m. on May 18, causing his death. Her grandfather was taken to a hospital but ultimately died. Immediately after the incident, Noh called emergency services at 119 herself and performed CPR. She was later arrested at the scene by police who responded to the call.
Noh is known to have told investigators that she had been under severe stress in her relationship with her grandfather. However, during the police investigation, she denied intent to kill, saying, "I acted impulsively during an argument." At her first trial on July 10, she repeated her position that she had no intent to kill, saying, "I injured the victim to stop his verbal and physical abuse."
The court will deliver its verdict in Noh’s case on October 23 at the Seoul Northern District Court.
[email protected] Seo Ji-yoon Reporter