'Middle School Girls Group Sexual Assault' Male Students' First Trial... Accomplice "Never Tried Sexual Assault"

One Person Admits to Charges of Sexual Assault and Filming Victim Nude

Two boys, including A (15), who are accused of gang raping a female middle school student, are entering the Incheon District Court for a warrant hearing. 2020.4.9
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Two middle school boys accused of gang raping a female classmate from the same school presented conflicting claims and did not agree with the prosecution's evidence during their first trial, signaling a fierce legal battle ahead. The case has drawn attention as the victim's mother appealed for severe punishment of the perpetrators through a petition on the Blue House National Petition Board.

The first trial of A (14) and B (15), who were indicted and detained on charges of rape causing injury and filming using a camera under the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes, was held on the 22nd at the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judge Ko Eunseol).

At the hearing, A's lawyer stated, "He admits to the charges and is remorseful," while B's lawyer denied the charges, saying, "There was no conspiracy with A, and he never attempted sexual assault."

B's lawyer also responded to the judge's question about whether he was at the crime scene (the 28th-floor stairs of an apartment) by saying, "He was on the rooftop separated from the scene," and expressed disagreement or denial regarding much of the prosecution's evidence.

A's lawyer also argued during the evidence admission process, "We do not agree with B's statements submitted in court," claiming, "B is shifting all the blame onto A."

In response, the court said, "Since the testimonies of the two defendants differ, we will need to conduct evidence examination and witness questioning," and added, "We will proceed with the evidence examination hearing next month."

A and others are accused of giving alcohol to C (14), a female student from the same middle school, in the early morning of December 23 last year at a gym in an apartment in Incheon, then dragging her to the stairs near the rooftop and repeatedly raping or attempting to rape her, causing injury.

Investigations revealed that A raped C, while B attempted rape but failed. Additionally, supplementary investigation by the prosecution found records on A's mobile phone used during the crime showing that nude photos of the victim were taken and then deleted.

C was reportedly targeted because she was close to a junior student whom A and B had been bullying at school.

Meanwhile, the post written by C's mother on the National Petition Board asking for severe punishment of the perpetrators has garnered 400,000 supporters.

C's mother claimed, "The perpetrators gave my daughter alcohol in their apartment, saying 'Today, we will kill you,' hit her face, played rock-paper-scissors to decide the order, and then raped her."

She continued, "Due to this incident, my daughter received a three-week recovery diagnosis from orthopedics and a two-week recovery diagnosis from obstetrics and gynecology," and appealed, "The perpetrators are sex offenders who committed the serious crime of aggravated rape causing injury and must be severely punished with at least 10 years in prison or life imprisonment."

C's mother also argued, "The minors who committed this serious crime are receiving juvenile protection measures simply because they are young," and insisted, "The juvenile protection system, which protects vicious criminals instead of victims, must be thoroughly reformed."

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