A man in his 50s who set fire to a milk inlet at a neighbor's front door because he was angry because he smelled filth was acquitted in the second trial.
According to the legal community today (3rd), Criminal Division 6-2 of the Seoul High Court (Chief Judge Jeong Chong-ryeong, Kang Gyeong-pyo, Won Jong-chan) sentenced A (50), who was charged with arson of general objects, not guilty as in the first trial.
In December 2020, Mr. A was handed over to trial for pushing a burning cleaning cloth into the milk inlet of the victim's front door because the smell of filth came down from the upper house.
Mr. A acknowledged that he had put a burning cleaning cloth into the milk inlet, but insisted that the milk inlet was not burned and the front door was blackened because of his actions.
The trial court accepted Mr. A's argument and acquitted him.
It was believed that the burning of the milk inlet was likely an action by a third person other than Mr. A.
In this regard, the Fire Investigation Team of the Forensic Science Analysis Division of the Supreme Prosecutor's Office conducted several case experiments in a similar way to how Mr. A ignited the cleaning cloth.
The judge also judged that Mr. A and Mr. B, a resident of the same apartment, complained to the victim about the smell of filth, and that the victim also suspected Mr. B as the first to suspect that Mr. A could not be the only person with the motive for the arson. .
The prosecution appealed, but the second trial court also acquitted, saying that the possibility that the milk inlet was burned for reasons other than Mr. A's act could not be ruled out.
In addition, Mr. A was found not guilty of the residential trespassing charge applied as a preliminary indictment.
The 2nd trial judge said, "There was physical intrusion with a hand entering the milk inlet, but it is difficult to see the inside of the milk inlet as a residence (space)." added.