Life sentence sought for loan shark in his 30s accused of stabbing an acquaintance to death dozens of times with a weapon

[The Financial News] Prosecutors have sought a life sentence for an unregistered lender in his 30s who was indicted on charges of stabbing an acquaintance with whom he had a debt relationship dozens of times and killing them at a print shop in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul.
The 13th Criminal Division of the Seoul Western District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Sang-won, held a final hearing on the 7th for Jeong, 35, who was indicted on charges of murder and drunk driving under the Road Traffic Act.
The prosecutor asked the court to sentence Jeong to life in prison and order him to wear an electronic tracking device for 15 years and remain under probation for 10 years.
The prosecutor said, “On the day of the crime, the defendant bought a paring knife in advance, checked the victim’s location, went there and killed them,” adding, “He committed the crime in a brutal manner, stabbing the victim 26 times.”
The prosecutor went on to say, “During the police investigation, he said he could not remember the circumstances of the crime, but later told prosecutors that the victim had looked down on him and cursed at him,” and pointed out, “No objective evidence to support this was found.”
Jeong’s side, meanwhile, asked for leniency, arguing that the killing was impulsive rather than premeditated.
Jeong’s lawyer argued, “For a year and six months, the defendant waited, believing the victim’s promise to repay the money,” adding, “When the promises continued to go unfulfilled, he bought the paring knife to threaten the victim into telling the truth.”
The lawyer continued, “If he had planned to kill the victim, he would not have committed the crime at the victim’s office in broad daylight,” and said, “He heard what the victim said, momentarily lost control, and ended up committing the crime.”
In his final statement, Jeong said, “I momentarily lost control and did something wrong, causing the victim and the victim’s family pain that can never be erased,” adding, “I’m sorry.”
Jeong is accused of stabbing an acquaintance identified as A to death several times with a weapon at a print shop in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Investigators found that Jeong had been in a dispute with A because he had not recovered the approximately 130 million won he had lent to A. He is also accused of riding a motorcycle while intoxicated after the crime.
The first-instance verdict for Jeong will be handed down at 10 a.m. on the 30th.
[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter