A man in his 60s who killed his son with a homemade gun after the son prepared a birthday meal was also sentenced to life in prison on appeal.
The Criminal Division 1 of the Incheon District Court at the Seoul High Court (presiding judge Jeong Seung-gyu) on the 19th sentenced A, 63, who was detained and indicted on charges of murder, attempted murder, and violating the Act on Safety Management of Firearms, Swords, and Explosives, to life imprisonment, the same as in the first trial.
The appellate court said, "Considering the planning and scale of the crime, the nature of the offense is extremely poor and the culpability is also very heavy," and added, "Human life must be protected under any circumstances."
It continued, "It can be taken into account that additional damage was prevented by revealing an arson plan immediately after arrest and that there was no long-term record of criminal punishment," but added, "These circumstances were already sufficiently reflected in the first-instance sentencing," dismissing both the prosecution's and the defendant's appeals.
A was put on trial on charges of killing his son B by firing two shotgun rounds from a homemade gun at an apartment in Songdo, Incheon, in July last year.
At the time, the daughter-in-law, two grandchildren, and the daughter-in-law's acquaintance were also present, and A is also accused of attempting to kill them.
According to the prosecution's investigation, after A fired once, when his son who had been shot said, "Please save me," A fired again.
It was found that after divorcing in 2015 because of his sex crime case, A had no particular job and had been supported with living expenses by his ex-wife and son. After the financial support was cut off at the end of 2023, he faced financial hardship, and the prosecution believes he decided to commit the crime after falling into the delusion that his ex-wife and son had intentionally isolated him.