A man in his 20s who committed a 'random murder' while hiking... Bereaved family demands "severe punishment"

[Image source = Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] The trial of a man in his 20s who committed a 'random murder' against a 50-year-old hiker he had never met before is scheduled for the 6th. He exercised his right to remain silent regarding the exact motive for the crime. The bereaved family appealed, asking for the harshest possible punishment close to the death penalty.

On July 11th, around 2:30 PM, a woman in her 50s, Ms. A, was found dead at the entrance of a hiking trail in Buk-myeon, Inje-gun, Gangwon-do. Ms. A, who lived in the metropolitan area, had come here with two companions for hiking but stayed in the car left at the trail entrance instead of going up the mountain, where she met her fate.

The police, through detailed vehicle forensics and inquiries, identified Mr. B (23), a resident nearby, as the prime suspect and arrested him at his home around 11 PM the same day.

The Chuncheon District Court issued an arrest warrant during the pre-trial detention hearing for Mr. B, stating, "There is reasonable suspicion that the suspect committed the crime and there is a risk of flight."

However, the exact motive remains unclear. Mr. B exercised his right to remain silent during police interrogation. The criminal psychological analyst also analyzed Mr. B's tendencies and psychological characteristics twice but reportedly could not find a clear motive for the crime.

Mr. B is known to have had a timid and introverted personality. His defense team reportedly appealed for psychiatric treatment. At the first trial held on the 18th of last month at the Chuncheon District Court Criminal Division 2 (Presiding Judge Jin Won-du), Mr. B's lawyer argued, "The defendant feels the need for treatment. Please allow him to receive treatment custody."

Treatment custody refers to a security measure where a criminal with recognized mental or physical disabilities is confined in a treatment facility for medical care.

In response, the prosecutor stated, "As shown in the case records, the mental evaluation at the treatment custody facility came back 'normal,' so he is not subject to mitigation due to diminished mental capacity," adding, "We will request treatment custody, but it will be difficult."

Entrance to the hiking trail where Mr. Han was found dead [Photo by Park Young-seo] [Image source = Yonhap News]

The bereaved family immediately reacted. Mr. C (48), the younger brother of Ms. A, said, "No matter how hard I look, there is no reason for my sister to be killed," and appealed, "The defendant had no financial motive, was not misogynistic or a gaming addict, and was found to have no mental illness. The only reason for the crime seems to be that he caught the eye of Mr. Lee, who was wandering around with a weapon."

He continued, "We had to learn about the investigation process indirectly through the news, and it felt like we were being treated as obstructers of the investigation, so it was difficult. They say Mr. Lee also has human rights, but it seems there is a lack of consideration for the bereaved family who are the most saddened by this case, which made me feel hurt and angry."

Mr. C appealed, "In our (the bereaved family's) hearts, we have already sentenced him to death," and asked, "Please impose a severe punishment so that he never even thinks about committing a crime again."

The next trial for this case, which completed the evidence investigation procedure at the first trial, will be held on the 6th.

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