Jang Dae-ho Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Again in Appeal... Court States "Strict Punishment Necessary"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Jang Dae-ho (38), the defendant in the so-called 'Hangang Torso Corpse Case,' was sentenced to life imprisonment again in the appellate court.

The Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Bae Jun-hyun) on the 16th dismissed both the prosecution's and Jang's appeals in the appellate trial for murder and corpse concealment charges and delivered this sentence.

The court stated, "It is necessary to punish the defendant with a severe sentence," but also noted, "It is difficult to find any special circumstances that would justify depriving life itself by imposing the death penalty, or any objective circumstances that anyone would clearly recognize."

The first trial sentenced Jang to life imprisonment in November last year, and both the prosecution and Jang appealed on the grounds of inappropriate sentencing.

In the previous closing arguments, the prosecution demanded the death penalty as in the first trial, stating, "The defendant shows no remorse or conscience. It is very dangerous to reintegrate him into society."

Jang was indicted on charges of killing a customer, Mr. A, by striking him with a blunt object and mutilating the corpse while working as a motel employee in Guro-gu, Seoul, on August 8.

Jang told investigators that he committed the crime because Mr. A spoke to him informally and did not pay the 40,000 won lodging fee, which angered him.

When appearing before the police, he provoked public outrage by saying things like, "No matter how much I think about it, the other person did something worthy of death, so I do not feel remorse."

Jang admitted to the charges during the trial process.

In the first trial, he said, "This case is about a vicious criminal killing a thug," and added, "I am okay with receiving the death penalty."

In his final statement in the second trial, he said, "I am truly sorry to the bereaved families," but also stated, "Some criticize me for not showing sadness, but I naturally have difficulty feeling sorrow."

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