The Horrific Story Behind Austin Power's Joe Son, AKA Random Task

He was the parody of Odd Job, renamed Random Task, in ‘Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery’, but in real-life, the story of actor and ex-MMA fighter Joe Son is no laughing matter.

Born Joseph Hyungmin Son in South Korea but having moved to California at an early age, he was originally a star on the mixed martial arts scene, but perhaps for the wrong reasons.

Though only five foot, four inches, and having been a wrestler, he entered the UFC Octagon as a heavyweight.

Sadly, his most famous bout, with fighter Keith Hackney, saw him repeatedly punched in the groin, a clip that has since become a staple on YouTube.

His MMA career was not a success – with a record of four losses and no wins – so he also turned to acting, appearing in 1993 action movie 'Joshua Tree’ with Dolph Lundgren, and 'Bloodfist V: Human Target’ in 1994.

He scored the role in Mike Myer’s secret agent parody 'Austin Powers’ in 1997, as the bowler hat-wearing henchman.

But his brief moment in the spotlight was followed by a harrowing series of crimes, culminating in a lifetime prison sentence without any possibility of parole.

It was after pleading guilty to a felony case of vandalism in 2008 which saw him undone.

He was sentenced to 60 days in jail, and required to supply a DNA sample, which linked him to a horrifying kidnapping and gang rape which had occurred in 1990 and gone unsolved.

With a litany of vile charges against him, he face 275 years in prison, but by the time the case came to trial in 2011, it has exceed the statute of limitations, so he could only be charged with one felony count of torture.

But he was sentenced to life in prison anyway, but with the possibility of parole, his accomplice receiving 17 years for his part in the sickening attack.

It didn’t end there.

In October, 2011, he was accused of the first degree murder of his cellmate, a sex offender called Michael Thomas Graham at Wasco State Prison in California, just a month into his sentence.

He had reputedly beaten him to death.

According to the Daily Beast, hearings will take place this month to determine whether Son, whose sentence has now been upgraded to life without the possibility of parole, will be tried for Graham’s death.

It was determined that Son, who claims that he acted in self defence and suffers mental health problems, will not face the death penalty over the murder.

He is serving his sentence in the Salinas Valley State Prison. Long may it continue.

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Image credits: New Line/YouTube