A woman has been sentenced to four years in jail for murdering her husband after suffering from domestic violence for around 40 years, according to the Supreme Court on Monday.

The woman surnamed Kim, 61, was charged for killing her husband with a 2.5 kg ornamental rock that she used to hit him dozens of times at their house in Samcheok, Gangwon Province on March 23, 2017. 

On the day of the crime, Kim’s husband had grabbed her by the hair and threw a glass cup. Kim then hit her husband with the rock and hit him additionally after he had fallen to the floor, according to the court.

Kim claimed the murder was in self-defense as she felt her life was being threatened. She also said she was drunk at that time and does not remember the incident.

However, the court said the case could not be seen as self-defense in the first and second trials.

The court said that the defendant kept hitting the victim’s head several times even after the victim was incapable of defending himself and the defendant expressed her anger instead of fear during her questioning which does not fall into the category of self-defense.

The court also added that it is difficult to conclude that the woman was in an unfit state since the victim does not have any medical records of depression or history of getting medication, she was able to call 112 after the accident, and she omitted information that could negatively affect her.

By Chyung Eun-ju (ejchyung@heraldcorp.com)