“Life was so hard, I wanted to go to prison”... Man in his 40s wields a knife again three months after release; prosecutors seek life sentence

[Financial News] Prosecutors have sought a life sentence for a man in his 40s who stabbed a merchant in his 60s with a knife at a traditional market in Muju, North Jeolla Province.
According to Yonhap News and other outlets on the 19th, prosecutors sought a life sentence at the final hearing in the attempted murder case against A, 43, held before the Jeonju District Court’s 11th Criminal Division, presided over by Judge Lee Yeong-eun. Prosecutors also requested a 30-year order to wear an electronic monitoring device and five years of probation.
A’s lawyer appealed for leniency, saying, “The defendant acknowledges all the criminal facts and has confessed,” and, “I know this is extremely shameless, but I ask that these circumstances be taken into consideration as much as possible and that he be shown leniency.”
A also bowed his head in his final statement, saying, “I can only feel sorry for the victim,” and, “I am remorseful for what I did.”
When the court asked A, who was making his final statement, “What were you thinking when you committed the crime?”, A replied, “I don’t know either. I was drunk...” and added, “I’m also sorry that I haven’t been able to make amends to the victim.”
A was indicted on charges of stabbing B, a merchant in his 60s, five times with a knife and fleeing from a traditional market in Muju-eup, Muju County, at around 12:50 p.m. on July 26.
The investigation found that A committed the crime after finishing a meal at a restaurant in the market and stealing a knife from a stall at a nearby shop. He was also found to have changed his clothes before leaving the scene immediately after the crime. However, he was arrested at a bus terminal about three hours later.
B was taken to a hospital after nearby merchants called for help and was reportedly so seriously injured that doctors diagnosed him as needing 28 weeks of treatment.
A reportedly committed another crime after being released from prison in April following a conviction for a similar offense.
He reportedly told police during questioning, in effect, “Life was hard, so I wanted to go to prison.”
A’s first-instance sentencing hearing is scheduled for the 18th of next month.
[email protected] Kim Su-yeon Reporter