Mother Who Killed 8-Year-Old Daughter Without Birth Registration... Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison

A mother in her 40s who killed her 8-year-old daughter.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] A mother who killed her daughter without even registering her birth and left the body unattended for a week has been sentenced to a heavy prison term.

On the 16th, the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office requested a 30-year prison sentence for A (44), who was indicted on murder charges, at the sentencing hearing held by the 13th Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Ho Seongho).

The prosecution stated, "The victim ended her short life tragically without receiving medical and educational benefits until she was eight years old," and added, "A had conflicts with the victim's biological father and cohabitant, and planned the murder of the victim to take revenge on him, which makes the crime particularly heinous."

They further pointed out, "After killing the victim, A left the body unattended for a week, sent text messages to the estranged cohabitant saying 'I sent the child to a relative's house in the provinces,' and even changed the front door password to hide the fact that she had killed her daughter."

A was arrested and indicted on charges of killing her daughter B (8) by covering her nose and mouth at their home in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, on January 8 of this year.

After killing B, A left the body inside the house for a week and reported to 119 at around 3:37 p.m. on the 15th of the same month, saying "My daughter is dead."

Subsequently, A attempted an extreme act by gathering clothes on the bathroom floor and setting them on fire but was found by the 119 emergency responders and transported to a nearby hospital, where she survived.

A lived with another cohabitant, C (46), without divorcing her husband, and gave birth to B, but it is understood that she did not register B's birth.

During police investigation, A reportedly stated, "I could not register my daughter's birth due to legal issues. I was in despair due to financial difficulties."

It was investigated that A, feeling betrayed after C left the house six months ago and stopped providing financial support, decided to kill B to take revenge and committed the crime.

C was found dead in an apartment in Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, one week after the incident. During the police investigation as a witness, C expressed guilt over the daughter's murder and later took his own life.

A's sentencing trial is scheduled for 2 p.m. on the 14th of next month.

Meanwhile, the prosecution persuaded A to give a name to the deceased B, who was listed as an "unnamed girl" (無名女) in the documents, and registered her birth and death under the name she was called during her lifetime.

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