"Co-habitant's Son's Murderer Locked in Suitcase, Woman Drank and Jumped on the Bag"

A woman in her 40s who locked her live-in boyfriend's 9-year-old son in a bag, causing his death.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] In the appeal trial of Seong Mo (41), who is accused of confining her cohabiting partner's son in a travel bag causing his death (charges of murder, habitual child abuse under the Child Welfare Act, and special injury), the prosecution demanded life imprisonment, consistent with the original trial.

On the 16th, at the Daejeon High Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Lee Jun-myung), during the sentencing hearing of Seong Mo's appeal case, the prosecution stated, "There is recognition of implied intent to kill," and requested the court to "isolate the defendant from society forever."

The prosecution argued that Seong not only confined the 9-year-old son of her cohabiting partner in a cramped travel bag for over 7 hours but also pressed down on the bag with a weight of up to 160 kg, asserting that there was an intention to kill.

They also presented as key circumstances supporting the criminal intent that the bag was sealed with tape and that despite noticing abnormal signs in the victim, the defendant did not immediately call 119 (emergency services).

A prosecution official stated, "The defendant drank alcohol while stepping and jumping on the bag," and added, "The victim child, at the defendant's single word, was trapped in the tiny bag that led him to death and could not even ask for help."

In response, the defendant's lawyer argued, "The victim told the defendant about urinating inside the bag and other such situations, which occurred," and added, "While we are not suggesting punishing the defendant's biological children, it cannot be said that the children bear no responsibility either." However, the habitual nature of the abuse was acknowledged.

Earlier, Seong was indicted for confining B, the son of her cohabiting partner, around noon on June 1 at her home in Cheonan, first in a travel bag measuring 50 cm wide, 71.5 cm long, and 29 cm deep for about 3 hours, and then in a smaller bag measuring 44 cm wide, 60 cm long, and 24 cm deep for nearly 4 hours, ultimately causing his death.

The second bag used to confine the victim was smaller than the child's body, and it is estimated that inside the bag, the chest, abdomen, and thighs were pressed tightly together, with the neck bent at a 90-degree angle.

Despite the victim's pleas of "I can't breathe," the defendant continued to abuse him by repeatedly jumping on the bag, and when the victim tried to breathe by pulling the zipper part open and sticking out his fingers, the defendant taped it shut again, according to the investigation.

On September 1, the Daejeon District Court Criminal Division 1, which handled the first trial, sentenced Seong to 22 years in prison, stating, "There is not even a trace of sympathy for the child, only anger."

In her final statement during the appeal trial, Seong said, "I will accept the punishment given. I will live a life of atonement forever."

The sentencing hearing for the appeal trial will be held on January 29 of next year.

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