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| Two brothers indicted on charges of murdering their grandmother leave the Daegu District Court in Daegu, in this Aug. 31, 2021, file photo. Newsis |
A teenager was sentenced to a prison term of up to 12 years, Thursday, for killing his grandmother, while his younger brother was given a suspended term for assisting in the murder.
The Daegu District Court sentenced the 19-year-old elder brother to a prison term of between seven and 12 years for murdering his grandmother at their home in Daegu in late August last year. He was also ordered to wear a GPS tracker for 10 years.
Under the Juvenile Act, courts can impose an unfixed jail term for underage convicts whose crimes require a two-year or longer jail sentence. After serving the minimum term, they are eligible for early release following a review by correctional service officials.
The 17-year-old younger brother was given a two-and-a-half year prison term, suspended for three years for aiding and abetting in the murder.
The elder brother was charged with stabbing his grandmother to death in a fit of rage over her scolding. The younger brother allegedly closed the windows beforehand so that their grandmother's screams wouldn't be heard from outside.
The elder brother was also charged with the attempted murder of his grandfather at the scene, which the younger brother prevented.
The brothers had been living with their grandparents, who were their main guardians, since 2012 after their parents divorced and cut communications.
The court acknowledged the brothers' unfortunate childhoods, caused mainly by repeated changes in their guardians, may have affected their behavior and that they have a sufficient chance to reform.
The court also ruled the killing was accidental, given a psychological analysis that showed the elder brother had a tendency for "explosive emotional outbursts."
"Considering that he underwent a difficult childhood due to his parents' divorce, the crime does not seem to be the result of innate anti-social behavior or malice," the court said of the elder brother.
"He is well aware of his wrongdoing and seems to have sufficient room for reform," it added. (Yonhap)
