Korean compatriots in China who "killed street cleaners" illegally stay in Korea, legal sentiment says "there was no intention of murder."

ⓒYonhap News Agency

A man in his 70s, who was put on trial for killing a street cleaner on an underground sidewalk near Sungnyemun Gate in Seoul, claimed in his first trial that "there was no intention of murder."

The Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Agreement Department 30 (Chief Judge Kang Doo-rye) held the first trial today (23rd) of a Chinese national surnamed Li (71) charged with murder and other charges.A lawyer for

Lee said, "We admit the charges, but considering that the motive of the crime is impulsive and accidental, there is room for injury resulting in death, not murder," adding, "Please consider the fact that it is an unplanned accidental crime in the sentencing."

He also highlighted that "the defendant will be deported to China anyway if he is released from prison after serving his sentence as an illegal resident."

A street cleaner appears on a paramedic / ⓒYonhap News TV news footage cited

Earlier, Lee is accused of killing A in his 60s, a street cleaner belonging to a Jung-gu service company, by wielding a weapon more than 15 times on the underground sidewalk near Sungnyemun at around 4:40 a.m. on August 2. It was reported that

Lee committed the crime with the thought that A ignored him, such as refusing a request for water.

Meanwhile, it was found that Li, an illegal resident of China, lived in an inn near a dosshouse in Dongja-dong, Yongsan-gu, and lived homelessly.

The court has designated November 13 as the next trial date and will conduct a witness examination of the sentencing witnesses requested by Lee.

Reporter Park Sun-young of Digital News Team