While preventing sexual assault, her boyfriend's intelligence was reduced to 11 years old... Sentenced to 50 years in prison, reduced to 27 years... Why?

Herald Economy = Reporter Na Eun-jung] A man in his 20s, who attempted to follow a woman living in a one-room apartment to sexually assault her and tried to murder her boyfriend with a weapon while he was trying to prevent it, received a significant reduction in his sentence on appeal.

Daegu High Court's Criminal Division 1 (Judge Jeong Seong-wook) overturned the original sentence and sentenced A (29) to 27 years in prison in an appellate trial on the 23rd for charges including violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, etc. (rape and murder). Additionally, it ordered the disclosure and notification of personal information for 10 years, employment restrictions related to children, adolescents, and disabled persons for 10 years, and the attachment of electronic tracking devices for 20 years.

The appellate court acknowledged that the victim woman suffered injuries including a severed wrist artery and nerve damage, and that the victim man sustained permanent brain damage due to hypoxic brain injury. However, it stated, "Considering factors such as the defendant admitting fault and showing remorse during the investigation stage, the fact that the defendant fled into the building corridor to avoid arrest after the rape offense was thwarted, and during a struggle with the victim man, the defendant somewhat impulsively committed attempted rape and murder, as well as the fact that the defendant deposited 100 million won in criminal bail for the victim man," it took these reasons into account.

Furthermore, considering the initial prosecution's sentencing opinion and similar case precedents, the appellate court explained that the original sentence of 50 years in prison, the maximum penalty under the law, was too severe for the defendant.

Mr. A was indicted for attempting to murder and sexually assault B (in her 20s, female), whom he followed into a one-room apartment in Daegu Buk-gu last May while she was returning home. He also has charges of repeatedly stabbing the face and neck of B's boyfriend, Mr. C, who entered the apartment at the same time and tried to restrain him, with a weapon, intending to kill him, but the attempt was unsuccessful.

At that time, Mr. A, dressed as a delivery driver, was searching for a target and followed Mr. B, whom he had no prior acquaintance with, to commit the crime. As a result of this crime, Mr. B suffered nerve damage to his wrist, and Mr. C sustained brain damage, resulting in a permanent disability with social age equivalent to 11 years old, making simple daily activities difficult.

In the first trial, the prosecution sought a 30-year imprisonment for Mr. A, but the court unusually sentenced him to the maximum 50 years in prison for life imprisonment. Mr. A, who admitted all the charges, appealed, saying, "The sentence is too heavy."

Meanwhile, regarding the appellate court ruling on that day, the victim woman and her boyfriend are protesting, saying "the punishment is too light. It's unfair."

Mr. C angrily stated, "Party A only said they were willing to settle but never actually reached an agreement," adding, "The injuries caused by Party A's actions are severe. I haven't received proper compensation, and I feel so wronged."