'20 Years Imprisonment' Claim... Reopening of Lee Chun-jae's 8th Case Retrial Initiated

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] The first retrial procedure for the 8th case of the serial murders by Lee Chun-jae, which sparked controversy over the "real culprit," was held on the 6th at the Suwon District Court.

The Criminal Division 12 of Suwon District Court (Chief Judge Byungchan Kim) held a preparatory hearing for the retrial of the 8th case of Lee Chun-jae on the morning of the same day. Although the retrial petitioner is not obligated to attend the preparatory hearing, which organizes the issues of the case and sets the trial plan before the formal trial, Mr. Yoon personally appeared in court to observe the judicial procedure.

At the trial, the joint defense team of retrial petitioner Mr. Yoon, including lawyer Junyoung Park, explained the purpose of the retrial petition. The defense argued, "Even if there is an abundance of evidence proving Mr. Yoon's innocence, it is necessary to verify the problems with the evidence submitted at the time (which judged Mr. Yoon guilty) according to the Criminal Procedure Act," adding, "Furthermore, there may be dissatisfaction from the investigators and the National Forensic Service at the time, but their right to rebut must be guaranteed, and a substantive hearing should take place."

The defense requested the prosecution to submit documents related to the 8th case of Lee Chun-jae, which the police transferred that day, as well as 19 volumes of past investigation records as evidence. They also requested witnesses including Lee Chun-jae (57), who confessed to the crime, the investigators at the time, and forensic experts from the National Forensic Service, and applied for an examination of two pieces of the perpetrator's clothing held by the National Archives.

The defense stated, "This retrial has a special nature of collaboration to prove the defendant's innocence and reveal the substantive truth of the case, unlike a general criminal trial where the prosecution attacks and the defense defends," adding, "This process will be a starting point of consolation for the victims of Lee Chun-jae, as well as Mr. Yoon and many others who were falsely accused due to illegal investigations."

The prosecution, after reinvestigating the 8th case of Lee Chun-jae following Mr. Yoon's retrial petition in November last year, expressed the opinion that the possibility of Mr. Yoon's innocence is high. They also stated they would cooperate with the defense as much as possible to protect Mr. Yoon's rights. However, the formal trial is expected to be handled by a newly formed bench, as Chief Judge Kim, who presides over this case, is retiring on the 12th, and the associate judges are scheduled for personnel changes at the end of this month.

The 8th case of Lee Chun-jae occurred on September 16, 1988, at the home of Mr. Park in Jinan-ri, Taean-eup, Hwaseong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, where his 13-year-old daughter was found sexually assaulted and dead. Mr. Yoon, who was arrested as the suspect at the time, denied the charges, claiming "a false confession under police coercion," but was dismissed by the court and ultimately served 20 years in prison. Mr. Yoon, who was paroled in 2009, filed for a retrial in November last year after Lee Chun-jae's confession. After reviewing the retrial petition, the court decided on the retrial, stating, "Lee Chun-jae made a confession that he was the real culprit in this case, and considering various evidence, Lee Chun-jae's statement is credible."

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