Man in his 50s accused of using meth and killing an acquaintance admits to most charges at first hearing

[Financial News] A man in his 50s indicted on charges of using meth at an officetel in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk District, Seoul, then killing an acquaintance with a knife and fleeing with cash, admitted to most of the charges at his first hearing.
According to legal sources on the 15th, the 14th Criminal Division of the Seoul Northern District Court, presided over by Judge Oh Byung-hee, held the first hearing that morning for Na (53), who was indicted while in custody on charges including robbery-murder, residential trespass, violating the Narcotics Control Act (psychotropic substances and cannabis), and violating the Act on the Safety Management of Guns, Swords and Explosives.
Na was indicted on charges of stabbing and killing an acquaintance, a woman in her 50s identified as A, at an officetel in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk District, around late July. He allegedly knew that she regularly kept a large amount of cash there. He is also accused of taking 1,216,000 won in cash and her cell phone. He is further accused of using meth before killing A and of smoking or possessing cannabis. Investigators found that the jackknife Na had with him at the time was a bladed weapon for which he did not have police authorization.
The prosecution believes that, after a creditor pressed Na to repay his debts while his liabilities exceeded his assets, he decided to kill A and rob her of her valuables.
According to the prosecution, before the crime he searched online for items such as “handcuffs” and “restraint devices” and prepared the tools in advance. Investigators believe he entered the officetel carrying multiple weapons, including a jackknife and a hunting knife, and carried out the crime in a premeditated manner.
Na’s side admitted to most of the charges that day. However, it claimed that 500,000 won of the money investigators said he had stolen was not the victim’s money, but money his mother had given him.
Na’s lawyer requested that two people—Na’s mother and an acquaintance identified as B—be called as witnesses so that Na’s psychological state at the time of the crime could be taken into account in sentencing, and the court granted the request. The lawyer sought to question B as a witness, saying that B had spoken with Na by phone shortly after the crime and had also given the police relevant information, which could help clarify the circumstances of the case.
The next hearing will be held at the Seoul Northern District Court on the afternoon of November 12.
[email protected] Seo Ji-yun Reporter