Man detained over fatal strangling of stranger in Seoul as police plan psychopathy test

A man in his 20s has been detained on suspicion of killing a stranger in his 70s at a residence in Beon-dong, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul.

Senior Judge Park Sa-rang of the Seoul Northern District Court issued a detention warrant Wednesday against the suspect, identified only by his surname Oh, on murder charges. The court cited risks of evidence tampering and flight as grounds for the warrant.

Oh had indicated he would not appear at the scheduled pre-detention hearing. The court proceeded in his absence, reviewing investigative records and other materials submitted by police to assess the need for detention.

Oh is accused of strangling a man in his 70s, identified only as B, to death at a residence in Beon-dong, Gangbuk-gu, around 11 p.m. Saturday. Police said the two men had no prior acquaintance.

Officers responding to a report that B could not be reached located his body at his home around 7 p.m. Sunday. Police then analyzed footage from nearby closed-circuit television cameras, identified Oh as a suspect and arrested him on an emergency basis around 1 a.m. Monday. Police applied for the detention warrant on Tuesday.

Oh told investigators that he and B had bumped shoulders while walking on the street, leading to a dispute, and that he followed B home to confront him before killing him in an impulsive act, according to police.

CCTV footage, however, showed no evidence of B colliding with anyone on his way home. Police are investigating the precise motive while keeping open the possibility that Oh gave a false account of how the crime unfolded.

Oh also faces charges of taking B's mobile phone and bank cards immediately after the killing. Police said they plan to administer a psychopathy diagnostic test on Oh.