A STARVING Korean tutor stabbed a man 17 times after luring him to his home so he could rob him, a court has been told.
Suk Ki Hyun, 30, was sentenced to five years’ jail today for the attack on Sang Park at Runcorn in Brisbane’s south in April last year.
He had pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court to attempted armed robbery with wounding.
Hyun also pleaded guilty to common assault after chasing Mr Park’s girlfriend from his home and threatening to kill her during the same incident.
The court was told Hyun, a qualified engineer, had come to Australia in late 2009 with the hopes of becoming an interpreter but started working as a tutor.
Prosecutor Sarah Dennis said that when his students left for the Easter break Hyun soon found himself out of work and unable to afford food.
The court was told Hyun was too ashamed to ask his family for money, so he instead lured Mr Park and his girlfriend to his home by answering their advertisement seeking assistance in changing $500 in Australian money into Korean currency.
Ms Dennis said after they got to the house, Hyun produced a knife and stabbed Mr Park 17 times.
Most of the wounds required stitches, with the worst needing surgery.
In sentencing, Judge Terry Martin said he accepted Hyun was remorseful but said he had trouble understanding his motive for carrying out such a “frenzied and sustained attack”.
“I find it bewildering that a man of your age and education could not find a better alternative to robbery to get food,” the judge said.
He sentenced Hyun, who has already spent nine months in custody, to five years’ jail.
Hyun will be eligible for parole in December next year.
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