Appeal Filed Against First Trial Sentencing Elder Sister to 20 Years in Prison in 'Gumi 3-Year-Old Girl Death' Case

Kim Mo, who was revealed to be the older sister, not the biological mother, of the deceased 3-year-old girl in Gumi, is entering the Daegu District Court Gimcheon Branch on April 9.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seok-jin] The older sister, who was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the first trial for leaving her 3-year-old sister in an empty villa in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, causing her death, has appealed the first trial verdict.

According to the legal community on the 9th, Kim Mo (22), who was sentenced to 20 years in prison on the 4th for charges including murder and violation of the Child Welfare Act, submitted an appeal directly to the court from the prison where she was incarcerated the day before.

It is known that Kim only stated her intention to "appeal" in the appeal petition without specifying the reasons for the appeal.

Kim is accused of leaving the child in an empty house while moving in early August last year, resulting in the child's death around mid-August. Kim, who was arrested and indicted in February, admitted most of the charges in court.

However, she claimed that "it was not intentional murder or premeditated, but occurred accidentally due to indirect intent."

Kim was initially thought to be the biological mother of the deceased child, but after the incident, a DNA test revealed that she was the older sister.

Earlier, at the sentencing hearing held on the 7th of last month, the prosecution demanded 25 years in prison for Kim, along with a 10-year employment ban at child-related institutions and a 20-year electronic anklet order.

At the sentencing hearing held on the 4th at the Criminal Division of Gimcheon Branch of Daegu District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Yun-ho), the court recognized most charges including murder and violation of the Child Welfare Act as guilty and sentenced her to 20 years in prison.

At that time, the court stated, "The defendant abandoned the victim under her care or neglected protection and nurturing including food, clothing, and shelter, leading to death," and added, "It is unimaginable how hungry and fearful the victim must have felt while alone."

The court also ordered Kim to complete 160 hours of child abuse treatment programs and imposed a 10-year employment ban at child-related institutions. However, the court dismissed the prosecution's request for an electronic anklet order, stating, "There is no prior criminal record for murder, and considering the circumstances of the crime, it appears that the victim's death was not actively intended."

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