Stepmother Neglects 5-Year-Old Son Who Died from Wooden Sword Assault... Biological Mother Sentenced to Prison

by Park Haesook

Published 03 Jul.2020 15:50(KST)

Incheon District Court: "Victim Received No Protection from Biological Mother"

Stepfather and Biological Mother Who Murdered Stepson (CG) [Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The court applied the charge of child abuse resulting in death to a biological mother who did not stop her stepfather from hitting her 5-year-old son with a wooden sword and failed to provide medical treatment, leading to the child's death, and sentenced her to prison.

The Criminal Division 13 of Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Ko Eunseol) sentenced A (25, female), who was indicted on charges including child abuse resulting in death under the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, to five years in prison and ordered her immediate detention on the 3rd.

The court stated, "The defendant did not take any action despite the husband's indiscriminate and brutal assault on their son, resulting in the child's death," and added, "The victim, only five years old, ended his short life tragically due to the stepfather's violence while receiving no protection from his biological mother."

It further explained the sentencing by saying, "Considering the severity of the crime, strict punishment is inevitable," but also took into account "the defendant's full admission of the crime and her attitude of remorse."

Earlier, on the 12th of last month, the prosecution requested a five-year prison sentence for A during the sentencing hearing.

During the trial, A admitted all charges but pleaded, "I am suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and, although I am the defendant, I can also be seen as a victim," asking for leniency in sentencing.

A was non-detained indicted on charges of failing to stop her husband B (27) from assaulting their son C (5 years old at the time of death) over 100 times with a wooden sword at their home in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, for more than 20 hours from September 25 to the next day last year, resulting in the child's death.

She is also accused of habitual neglect and abuse, including not taking her son to the hospital after he was confined and beaten in the bathroom for 72 hours, and failing to care for him while he was tied up and collapsed.