Life sentence sought for neighbor killing over noise

A prosecutor has sought a life sentence for Yang Min-jun, 47, who stands accused of murdering his upstairs neighbor over a dispute concerning noise. The prosecution requested the sentence along with a 30-year electronic tagging order, citing the brutal nature of the crime against a vulnerable elderly victim and a significant risk of recidivism.

The incident occurred on December 4 last year in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province. Yang allegedly entered the victim's apartment, a man in his 70s identified only as Mr. K, and fatally stabbed him. Investigators determined that Yang committed the act after enduring construction noise from Mr. K's apartment, which he found intolerable.

During the trial, Yang's defense team pleaded for leniency. They highlighted Yang's remorse for his actions and pointed to his history of epilepsy as mitigating factors. Notably, the defense withdrew an earlier plea of diminished mental capacity, which had been raised since the first hearing, after psychiatric evaluations did not reveal any abnormalities.

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The elderly person, a vulnerable member of society, was brutally murdered, and given the method of the crime, the risk of reoffending is considerable.

In his final statement to the court, Yang expressed deep remorse. "I sincerely apologize once again to the deceased victim, whose life was irrevocably taken by my actions. I sincerely apologize to the bereaved family who are suffering from this pain," he stated.

The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict on July 20 at 10 a.m. in Courtroom 301 of the Cheonan Branch of the Daejeon District Court.

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I sincerely apologize once again to the deceased victim, whose life was irrevocably taken by my actions. I sincerely apologize to the bereaved family who are suffering from this pain.