'Ex-Husband Murder' Go Yoo-jeong's 2nd Trial Begins... Controversy Over 'Step-Son Murder' Acquittal

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The second trial for Go Yu-jeong, who is accused of murdering her ex-husband and stepson, has begun.

The Jeju First Criminal Division of the Gwangju High Court (Chief Judge Wang Jeong-ok) held the first appellate hearing for Go on the 22nd at 10 a.m.

In the second trial, the charge of 'murdering the stepson,' for which Go was acquitted in the first trial, is expected to be a key issue. Go was prosecuted last May for killing her ex-husband Kang Mo and mutilating and disposing of his body. Subsequently, she was additionally charged with murdering her stepson. The first trial court ruled that "the prosecution's evidence is insufficient to find guilt" and acquitted Go of the stepson murder charge.

The prosecution plans to prove guilt in the second trial through additional investigations and intends to increase the sentence for the ex-husband murder charge from life imprisonment to the death penalty. Go also appealed, arguing that the first trial's sentence was excessive. She is expected to maintain the claim of an unplanned murder rather than a premeditated one in the second trial.

Meanwhile, Go's second trial court reduced the number of public seats from 49 to 10 as part of social distancing measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19). Standing room was also not allowed.

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