Man gets 16 years for killing wife during argument

A 69-year-old man has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for fatally stabbing his wife during a domestic dispute. The incident occurred on the night of December 22 last year at their apartment in Gwangju.

According to the investigation, the couple had been married for 40 years, but marital conflict had escalated in recent years due to the wife's struggles with alcohol dependence and depression. The fatal argument reportedly erupted over the wife's drinking habits and her disrespectful remarks towards the husband's parents.

Following the crime, the husband left the residence and sent text messages implying suicidal intent before attempting to take his own life by ingesting poison at a family grave site in Jeonnam. He survived the attempt after receiving medical treatment and subsequently faced trial.

The court acknowledged the husband's claims regarding his wife's excessive drinking and conflicts with her in-laws, which the victim's family also reportedly supported. However, the court emphasized that murder, which infringes upon the absolute value of life protected by the legal order, cannot be justified. The judges stated that the sentence was determined considering the children's plea for leniency and the fact that the crime was committed in a moment of uncontrollable anger.