Mother brutally beats 13-year-old stepdaughter to death, first application of child abuse punishment 'Jeongin Act'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] The police have applied the 'Jeong In Act (Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes Amendment)' for the first time to a stepmother who habitually abused her 13-year-old daughter, ultimately causing her death.

The Women's and Juvenile Crime Investigation Unit of the Gyeongnam Provincial Police Agency announced on the 2nd that they had sent stepmother A (40) to prosecution on charges of habitual child abuse and child abuse homicide.

According to the police, A is accused of assaulting her stepdaughter B (13) at their residence in Namhae-gun, Gyeongnam, on the 22nd of last month, leading to B's death.

A reportedly abused the child due to reasons such as marital conflicts, discord with the in-laws, disobedience, and slow behavior, including hitting her, stepping on her abdomen with her foot, and pushing her down.

Upon investigating B's hospital medical records, the police confirmed that there were four additional instances of abuse from last summer until mid-June this year.

A had symptoms of alcohol addiction and was drinking beer on the day of the crime. The investigation also revealed that the violence intensified after she separated from her husband in March.

On the day of the incident, around 9 p.m., after a severe argument over child-rearing issues with her husband via phone, A continuously assaulted B for about two hours, including hitting and stepping on her.

When B's condition became critical, A contacted her estranged husband, but by the time he arrived around 2 a.m. on the 23rd, B had already passed away.

The autopsy revealed that B's cause of death was organ damage caused by external trauma. It is presumed that prolonged abuse weakened her body, and exposure to long-term assault while suffering from enteritis with abdominal swelling ultimately led to her death.

The police applied the newly established charge of child abuse homicide, considering that A was aware of B's critical condition but failed to report it in time and left her unattended, which constitutes indirect intent.

The child abuse homicide law stipulates that those prosecuted for causing a child's death through abuse may face the death penalty, life imprisonment, or imprisonment of seven years or more.

A was immediately arrested at the scene, and no separate weapon was found.

The husband was not separately charged as he arrived at the scene after B had already died and was not aware of previous abuse signs.

A lived with three other children besides the deceased B: an elementary school student and two preschool children.

The deceased daughter and the elementary school child were born to the husband and his ex-wife, while the youngest preschool child was born to A and the husband.

Investigations revealed that besides the deceased daughter, there was one instance of assault against the elementary school son.

A police official stated, "The deceased daughter's two siblings are being cared for by their father and grandfather," adding, "They are receiving protection through psychological therapy and after-school programs."

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