Developmentally Disabled Child Pushed by Daycare Teacher Found Not Guilty: "No Proof of Intent to Cause Injury"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] A daycare teacher who was accused of forcibly grabbing and pushing the arm of a physically disabled child was acquitted by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court's 3rd Division (Presiding Justice Min Yoo-sook) announced on the 4th that it upheld the lower court's verdict of not guilty in the appeal trial of daycare teacher A, who was charged with violating the Child Welfare Act.

In April 2016, A was charged with physically abusing B (then 5 years old), who had a developmental disability, by grabbing and pushing her arm or holding it tightly after B lay down on the floor without properly putting away playground equipment at the daycare where A worked. B sustained bruises from the incident and required 14 days of treatment. A claimed that the actions were part of disciplinary measures and that B's injury was unintentional.

The first and second trials ruled that A was not guilty. The second trial stated, "It is difficult to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt that A intentionally inflicted injury or caused harm to B." The Supreme Court also affirmed this ruling, stating, "The lower court did not violate the rules of logic and experience or exceed the limits of free evaluation of evidence," thereby confirming the verdict as is.

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