Man arrested over wife's killing in Jeonju despite court restrictions
In short
Police arrested a man in his 70s on suspicion of killing his wife in Jeonju and fleeing to Seocheon on October 14. Reports said he had been subject to court orders prohibiting stalking, approaching and contacting her, while later coverage said she had previously reported him to police eight times.
Read the full story 2 min read
Police arrested a man in his 70s on suspicion of killing his wife in Jeonju and fleeing to Seocheon on October 14, Korean outlets reported. Later coverage said the suspected killing occurred despite court orders restricting stalking, approaching and contacting the woman, who had previously reported her husband to police eight times. [ 2 , 7 , 11 , 17 , 18 ]
Officers found the woman dead at a home in Jeonju's Deokjin district around 17:00 after receiving a report of blood at the entrance. Police identified her husband as the main suspect and pursued him after he travelled by car to Seocheon in South Chungcheong Province. They arrested him there around 20:40, Yonhap reported. [ 2 ]
Kyunghyang Shinmun and Seoul Shinmun reported that the husband had recently received three court-ordered interim stalking measures. These comprised a written warning to stop stalking, a ban on approaching within 100 metres of the victim and her family, and a ban on contact through calls, messages or other communications. The outlets also reported previous domestic violence. [ 7 , 11 ]
Dong-A Ilbo reported that the woman had made eight police reports about her husband between April and September, including complaints involving theft, telephone threats, damage to a front door and violation of an approach ban. It said she was registered for police safety measures but did not answer a monitoring call made around the suspected time of the killing. [ 17 ]
Police planned an autopsy and were investigating the motive and circumstances. Later reports placed the suspected killing on October 13, before the discovery of the body. The reports also differ on the woman's age: several describe her as in her 70s, while Newsis and later Dong-A Ilbo coverage place her in her 60s. [ 7 , 9 , 11 , 13 , 17 ]
Yonhap reported on October 15 that the suspect had been taken to hospital following poisoning around the time of his arrest. Newsis said he was receiving treatment and his life was not in danger. [ 12 , 13 ]
Why it matters
The reported killing occurred despite court restrictions and police safety measures for the woman. Police are investigating the circumstances and planned an autopsy to establish the precise cause of death.
Key facts
- Police found the woman dead at a home in Jeonju's Deokjin district around 17:00 on October 14. [ 2 , 6 , 9 , 11 , 13 ]
- Her husband was arrested around 20:40 in Seocheon after travelling there by car. [ 2 , 6 , 9 , 11 ]
- Reports said court measures barred him from approaching within 100 metres of the victim and her family or contacting her. [ 7 , 10 , 11 , 17 ]
- Dong-A Ilbo and Chosun Ilbo reported that the woman had made eight previous police reports. [ 17 , 18 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Reports differ on the victim's age. Several outlets described her as in her 70s, while Newsis and later Dong-A Ilbo coverage described her as in her 60s.
- The exact time and circumstances of the killing remain under investigation. Later reports place the suspected killing on October 13, before the body was discovered; police planned an autopsy and further questioning.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- On October 14, police discovered the woman's body after a report of blood at the entrance to a Jeonju home. [ 2 , 9 , 11 ]
- On October 14, police arrested the husband in Seocheon. [ 2 , 9 , 13 ]
- On October 15, Dong-A Ilbo reported eight previous police reports and the woman's registration for police safety measures. [ 17 ]