A Couple in Their 20s Tried to Burn a Newborn in a Pot... Given Probation After 32 Apology Letters

A man and woman in their 20s who left a 24-week-old baby in a toilet, causing the baby's death, and then abandoned the body, were sentenced to probation in the appellate court. The photo is unrelated to the text. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] A couple in their 20s who abandoned a baby born in a bathroom in a toilet, causing the baby's death, and then disposed of the body, received a suspended sentence in the appellate court.

According to the legal community on the 24th, the Daejeon District Court Criminal Division 1 (Chief Judge Yoon Seongmuk) overturned the original verdict and sentenced A (27, female) and B (22, male), who were charged with infanticide and corpse abandonment, to 2 years in prison with a 3-year suspended sentence and 1 year in prison with a 2-year suspended sentence, respectively.

The court also ordered them to perform 120 hours of community service. A was restricted from employment for 5 years in child and youth-related institutions and welfare facilities for the disabled.

A is accused of giving birth to a 24-week-old baby girl in the bathroom of her home in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, in May 2019, placing the baby in the toilet, and leaving her there for about an hour, resulting in death.

It was understood that A testified she committed the crime after deciding to have an abortion, taking illegal abortion pills, but failing to abort the baby.

Afterwards, A and B dug a hole near B's house in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, and abandoned the baby. It was confirmed that before abandoning the baby, they tried to burn the baby by placing her in a canned food container but failed.

In the first trial, the court said, "A neglected the baby she gave birth to as it was dying," and "the crime was committed not simply by burying the baby but by an incomprehensible method of incineration, making a prison sentence unavoidable," sentencing the two to 5 years and 3 years in prison, respectively.

However, A and others appealed on the grounds of excessive sentencing, and it was reported that they submitted letters of apology 32 times during the trial process.

The appellate court stated, "The nature of A and others' crimes is very bad," but also considered "their remorseful attitude, including submitting 32 letters of apology," overturned the original verdict, and sentenced them to suspended prison terms.

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