Defense Team for the 'Ichunjae 8th Case' Retrial Petition "Efforts for Yoon's Swift Not Guilty Verdict"

Yoon Mo (52), who was arrested as the suspect in the 8th Hwaseong serial murder case and has claimed to have served 20 years of wrongful imprisonment, is entering the Suwon District Court on the morning of the 13th with a petition for retrial. 2019.11.13 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-joo] On the 14th, the court decided to commence a retrial for the 8th case of the serial murders committed by Lee Chun-jae. In response, the joint legal team representing Yoon Mo, the petitioner for the retrial, stated, "We will strive to ensure that Mr. Yoon receives a not guilty verdict as soon as possible."

The law firm Dasan, which is handling Yoon's defense, emphasized in a press release that day, "We will thoroughly verify illegal acts during the investigation and the forensic analysis by the National Forensic Service (NFS), as well as submit witness requests for Lee Chun-jae, NFS examiners, and investigation officials from 1989, and request forensic examination of two pieces of evidence related to the criminal conspiracy held by the National Archives, to promptly establish Mr. Yoon's innocence."

The legal team also evaluated the court's decision to commence the retrial as an unusually swift decision, made just two months after the retrial petition was submitted. Mr. Yoon filed the retrial petition with the Suwon District Court on November 13 last year, and the prosecution submitted an opinion to the court on December 23 last year stating that "it is appropriate to commence the retrial."

Meanwhile, the Criminal Division 12 of the Suwon District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Byung-chan) decided to commence the retrial on the same day, stating, "Lee Chun-jae confessed during the investigation by law enforcement agencies that he was the true culprit of this case," and "Considering various pieces of evidence, the credibility of the statement is recognized." The court also explained, "The retrial corresponds to the case where new clear evidence recognizing Mr. Yoon's innocence has been discovered."

The court will hold a preparatory hearing next month to hear the future proof plans from both the prosecution and defense and proceed with the process of selecting the necessary evidence and witnesses for the retrial. The full trial is scheduled to begin in March.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.