South Korean court upholds 16-year sentence for man who killed wife with fire

A South Korean man in his 70s has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for the murder of his wife. The Seoul High Court dismissed appeals from both the defendant and prosecutors, upholding the original sentence.

In November last year, the defendant, identified as Mr. Choi, allegedly poured flammable substances on his wife during an argument while drinking and set her on fire. The victim suffered severe burns and died nine days later from systemic sepsis. Evidence refuted Choi’s claims that the incident was an accident or that he had also doused himself in the substance, as no traces were found on his clothing or hair.

Court findings highlighted that Choi failed to call emergency services, leaving his wife unattended for approximately two hours after the fire was extinguished. The court also noted a history of domestic violence involving the defendant. While the court considered his age and the circumstances of the crime during sentencing, it maintained the 16-year term. A request for an electronic monitoring device was denied, as the defendant would be 90 years old by the end of his sentence.