Man who strangled wife at her request gets 2-year sentence

A man in his 60s who strangled his wife to death after a failed suicide pact has been sentenced to two years in prison.

The 22nd Criminal Division of the Cheongju District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Han Sang-won, handed down the sentence Thursday to the defendant, identified only as A, on charges of murder by consent.

A was indicted on charges of strangling his wife, identified as B, also in her 60s, at a motel in Boeun-eup, Boeun-gun, North Chungcheong Province, at around 9 p.m. on Jan. 9.

A and B had agreed to die together after B received a suspected bone marrow cancer diagnosis. The couple took sleep-inducing medication, but A woke up before dying. B then asked A to kill her, and he carried out the act.

The couple had been living in financial hardship as recipients of basic livelihood assistance.