Home intruder who threatened Nana with weapon sentenced to 7 years in prison
The court ruled that injuries inflicted on the defendant by the singer-actress constituted self-defense.
A man who broke into the home of singer-actress Nana and threatened her with a weapon was sentenced to seven years in prison on Tuesday, according to the Uijeongbu District Court.
The court’s Namyangju branch applied a charge of bodily injury resulting from robbery, which stipulates a minimum penalty of seven years in prison.
“The defendant entered a private residence at night carrying a weapon, a time when people should be able to feel relaxed in their homes,” the court said.
“The punishment took into consideration the victims’ accounts of severe physical and psychological suffering and their desire to see the defendant punished, as well as the fact that the weapon the defendant carried did not appear to have been intended to inflict bodily harm.”
The court determined that Nana’s mother persuaded the offender — surnamed Kim — to briefly put down the weapon. The singer, who later arrived at the scene, picked it up and wielded it toward the intruder.
The court rejected Kim’s claims that he had not been carrying a weapon when he entered the residence and had no intention of committing robbery.
“The victims have provided detailed and consistent testimony regarding the defendant’s possession of a weapon,” the court said. “There were records showing Kim had searched for information about penalties related to carrying a weapon before handing over his mobile device to police.”
The court ruled that the injuries Nana inflicted on Kim constituted self-defense.
It also dismissed Kim’s arguments that the victim attempted to pressure him to accept a 40 million won ($26,300) settlement on the condition of confessing that he had carried the weapon. The court also rejected the offender's claim that the weapon was from Nana's home.
“The victim used her fists and the weapon to prevent serious harm from the defendant and to protect her family,” the court said. “It is reasonable to conclude that the defendant was aware he could encounter such resistance.”
Kim illegally entered Nana’s home in Guri, Gyeonggi, at about 6 p.m. on Nov. 15 last year while carrying a weapon. He later coerced Nana and her mother by grabbing them by the neck and demanding money. On May 19, prosecutors sought a 10-year prison sentence against Kim.
BY JEON ICK-JIN [[email protected]]
