Up to 12-year jail sentence was up against a teenager behind the murder of his grandmother, The Korea Times reported.
Her younger brother was sentenced to a suspended term for helping him in the killing.
The murder happened in August last year in their home in Daegu. The elder teenager, 19, was sentenced by Daegu District Court on Thursday to imprisonment between seven to 12 years. Apart from this, he will also be wearing a GPS tracker for a decade.
Courts are allowed to rule unfixed prison sentences for minor convicts, as stated under the Juvenile Act. Those convicts committed crimes that require jail sentences of two years or longer. They can be qualified for early release after the term upon the review by officials in the correctional service.
A two-and-a-half-year jail term was given to the 17-year-old younger brother. He is also suspended for three years over his involvement in the crime.
The 19-year-old faced rap for stabbing his grandma to death after he was agitated by her scolding. To hide the noise in the crime scene, her younger brother allegedly closed the windows.
The elder one also tried to kill his grandfather thus, he was charged with attempted murder. The younger brother prevented the crime.
The two have been in their grandparents’ custody since the divorce of their parents in 2012.
Their ill-fated childhood was recognized by the court. Their behavior might be the result of the repeated changes of their guardians.
After looking at psychological factors, the court said the murder was accidental. The elder brother was also found through a psychological analysis of having a tendency of “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, referring to the elder brother.
“He is well aware of his wrongdoing and seems to have sufficient room for reform,” it added.