Man Gets 12 Years for Murdering Common-Law Partner

A South Korean court has upheld a 12-year prison sentence for a 40-year-old man convicted of murdering his common-law partner. The Suwon High Court's Criminal Division 3 rejected appeals from both the prosecution and the defendant, maintaining the original sentence handed down by the lower court.

The defendant, identified as Mr. A, was found guilty of strangling his partner, Ms. B, at their residence in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, on August 14 of last year. Investigations revealed that Mr. A became enraged after discovering Ms. B had requested to end their relationship and had been in contact with another man.

The appellate court stated that there were no new circumstances since the initial sentencing that warranted a change in the punishment. The first trial court had previously cited the "poor nature of the crime" due to its motive, circumstances, and method, along with the victim's family's plea for severe punishment, as reasons for the 12-year sentence.

The prosecution and the defense had both appealed the initial ruling, but their arguments were deemed insufficient to alter the verdict. The case highlights the severe consequences of domestic disputes escalating to fatal violence.