Stepfather and Biological Mother Sentenced to 30 Years in Appeal Trial for Killing and Abandoning Middle School Daughter

Kim Mo, who was urgently arrested on charges of murdering his stepdaughter and disposing of the body in a reservoir, is arriving at the Gwangju District Court on May 1 last year to attend the pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing). / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Lim Juhyung] The stepfather and biological mother, who were tried for murdering their middle school daughter and disposing of her body, received the same heavy sentences in the appellate court as in the first trial.

The 2nd Criminal Division of Gwangju High Court (Presiding Judges Kim Mooshin, Kim Dongwan, Wi Gwangha) announced on the 19th that stepfather Kim Mo (33) and biological mother Yoo Mo (40), who were charged with murder and corpse disposal, were each sentenced to 30 years in prison, the same as the original sentence.

The court stated, "Mr. Kim had several opportunities to stop the plan to kill his stepdaughter, but he took the lead in the crime under the pretext of calming Ms. Yoo, who was angry over a molestation incident," adding, "Severe punishment is inevitable."

It further explained the sentencing reason, saying, "Consideration was given to the fact that they consistently confessed to the crime and showed remorse."

Regarding Ms. Yoo, the court ruled, "The victim must have experienced resentment and extreme fear toward a mother who did not protect her," and "A heavy sentence comparable to Mr. Kim's is inevitable."

Mr. Kim is accused of strangling his stepdaughter A (then 12 years old) to death inside a passenger car on a farm road in Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, at around 6:30 p.m. on April 27 last year, and then disposing of the body in a reservoir.

Ms. Yoo is accused of giving A a psychotropic drug called Sumyungje mixed in a beverage two days before the crime and assisting Mr. Kim in killing the daughter and disposing of the body.

Previously, the first trial court sentenced both to 30 years in prison, stating, "They meticulously killed the daughter who should have been protected more than anyone else for an incomprehensible reason, showing a bad nature of the crime."

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