A judge sentenced a high school student on Friday to three to four years in prison for murdering a man who admonished him for his misbehavior.

Suwon District Court took the 17-year-old, identified by his surname Kim, into custody after passing down the prison sentence.

Kim beat the man in his 30s to death with his friend Shin on a street in Gwonseon-gu, Suwon, when a quarrel erupted after the victim told Kim “not to spit on the street” on July 21, 2012.

The victim allegedly fell on the ground during the attack.

“Even though the defendant is a minor, the nature of the crime is severe, since he took a life, who had five family members to support, by beating and killing the man who couldn’t defend himself,” the prosecutors said.

Shin, who started his mandatory military service after the incident, is now facing trial in the military court.

By Im Woo-jung, Intern reporter
(iwj@heraldcorp.com)