Man suspected of killing couple in Naju attends pre-arrest hearing

A man in his 50s suspected of binding and killing an acquainted couple in their 60s in Naju, South Jeolla Province, appeared at a pre-arrest detention hearing Friday. Police applied for an arrest warrant on charges of robbery-murder after confirming he had withdrawn cash using the victims' card following the killings.

The suspect, identified only as A, 52, arrived at the Gwangju District Court on Friday afternoon and refused to answer reporters' questions about whether the crime was premeditated or whether he admitted to the charges. He remained silent as he walked into the courtroom, his face covered with a hat and mask, ignoring further questions about his motive and whether he had targeted the victims for money.

A was arrested on an emergency basis on suspicion of stabbing and strangling the couple to death at their home in Naju between 9:28 p.m. and 11:57 p.m. Monday. The couple were found dead the following afternoon — the husband in the living room and the wife in the bedroom — with their hands and feet bound with blue tape and clothing.

Investigators found that A had become acquainted with the male victim at an arcade. After the killings, he fled by alternating between the bicycle he had ridden to the scene, the victims' truck and his own car. Police arrested him Wednesday at his apartment in Muan-gun, South Jeolla Province.

A told investigators he had discarded the weapon used in the killings in the Yeongsan River near Naju Bridge while fleeing. The weapon has not yet been recovered, and police are continuing their search.

Police had initially arrested A on murder charges but upgraded them to robbery-murder after confirming he had taken the victims' bank card and withdrawn 6 million won ($4,480) in cash, along with other circumstances supporting premeditated intent.

A decision on whether to issue the arrest warrant was expected later Friday afternoon.