Gumi Girl's Biological Mother "Agrees to DNA Test Results... But It Does Not Prove the Fact of Birth"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Choyoung] Seok Mo (48), identified as the biological mother of a 3-year-old girl who was found dead and abandoned in a vacant house in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, acknowledged the DNA test results in court for the first time. However, she argued that the DNA test results cannot prove the fact of childbirth.

At the second trial held on the afternoon of the 11th at the Gimcheon branch of Daegu District Court, Seok’s lawyer stated, "We agree with most of the evidence submitted by the prosecution but deny the purpose of proving the charges," adding, "We do not agree with the parts that speculate or infer the facts of the case."

The court asked, "The DNA test results can be used as evidence, but do you mean that such results cannot prove the defendant’s childbirth?" The lawyer replied, "That is the defendant’s position."

During the trial, the prosecution questioned Seok by referring to △ the National Forensic Service DNA test report △ videos related to the girl’s birth △ a childbirth-related application that Seok installed and deleted on her phone △ observation records of the girl born to Seok’s biological daughter Kim Mo (22).

The prosecution presented evidence including △ the identification tag on the girl’s right ankle in photos taken on the day of birth was detached in photos taken the next day △ the child’s weight decreased by about 200 grams from 3.485 kg to 3.235 kg within two days △ the probability that the deceased girl and Seok are biological relatives is 99.999% △ Seok’s blood type is B type BO, her daughter Kim’s is B type BB, but the deceased girl’s is A type AO.

In response, the lawyer said, "I would like to deny the DNA test results if I could, but even if we refuse, it is not persuasive or useful, so we agree, but it is frustrating to deny the fact of childbirth itself," adding, "There may be errors in the DNA test results. I understand that such cases exist. We will submit related materials."

The lawyer explained, "Even if the defendant gave birth or the deceased girl is the defendant’s biological child, there are many things that need to be additionally proven or evidenced," adding, "There are no facts revealed in the investigation regarding the motive, specific time and place of the crime."

He pointed out, "Where the defendant placed her own child before switching the baby, how the child was managed after about 10 days when marks would appear, even if the births were at the same time, are all questions," adding, "The place where the baby was switched is said to be the newborn room, but there is no basis for how or under what circumstances the switch happened, only speculation."

The prosecution rebutted, "Considering the defendant’s childbirth history, there was enough time to give birth in March 2018. Since the defendant’s childbirth is acknowledged, it is not reasonable to believe that the defendant was unaware of the baby switch," adding, "This is just vague speculation."

The third trial for Seok is scheduled to be held at 11:10 a.m. on June 17 at the Gimcheon branch.

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