Son Sentenced to 10 Years for Killing Father with Dementia

A 50-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the fatal assault of his father, who was in his 70s and suffering from dementia. The Daejeon High Court upheld the original sentence on July 5, dismissing appeals from both the defendant and the prosecution.

The man, identified as A, was charged with the murder of his father after an incident on January 1, 2025, in a villa in Seosan, South Chungcheong Province. Investigations revealed that A had grown increasingly frustrated with his father's worsening dementia, which led to frequent incidents of incontinence. On the night of the incident, after returning home intoxicated, A attacked his father in a fit of rage.

The first trial court noted the brutality of the crime, stating that the victim's life was tragically cut short and that the family would endure significant emotional suffering. However, the court also acknowledged that A had cared for his father for over 15 years, and his accumulated frustrations, combined with his intoxicated state, were considered in the sentencing.

The appellate court affirmed that the initial ruling had adequately considered the key factors in A's sentencing, concluding that the 10-year term was a reasonable judgment.