'Jeong-in's' Stepmother's Sentence Reduced from Life Imprisonment to 35 Years in Second Trial (Comprehensive)

Stepfather's 5-Year Prison Sentence Maintained

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] Jang, the adoptive mother (35) who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial for abusing and causing the death of 16-month-old adopted child Jeong-in, had her sentence reduced to 35 years in prison in the appellate trial.

On the morning of the 26th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 7 (Presiding Judge Seong Suje) ruled in Jang’s appeal trial on charges including murder, stating, "It is difficult to see that sentencing life imprisonment, which permanently isolates the defendant from society, is appropriate in terms of the principle of proportionality between crime and punishment." An adoptive father, Ahn (37), who was also charged for neglecting his wife's abusive behavior, was sentenced to 5 years in prison, the same as in the first trial.

The court stated regarding Jang, "The defendant shows remorse and self-reproach for her actions," and added, "It is difficult to view that she was unaware of the wrongfulness of her crime or had an attitude hostile to the basic ethical norms of the social community, such as taking the victim to the hospital." Furthermore, "It cannot be said that there is no possibility of improving her personality issues through long-term imprisonment, and it is difficult to definitively conclude that there is a risk of reoffending after release."

Additionally, "The social outrage is not only due to the horrific abuse and murder of a child victim by the defendant but also because the social protection system for child protection did not function properly," emphasizing, "To prevent child abuse, social efforts must be made in parallel to improve and supplement the child protection system so that it operates thoroughly and reliably."

At the sentencing hearing on the 5th, the prosecution demanded the death penalty for Jang, stating, "This case involves a crime against a 16-month-old child who is difficult to defend themselves, making the nature of the crime severe and antisocial." They argued that Jang had intent or at least conditional intent to kill Jeong-in.

Jang admitted the fact that Jeong-in died due to her actions but claimed she had no intent to kill. She said in her final statement, "I feel guilty toward my daughter who struggled to live and ended her difficult life," and "What I did is disgusting even to mention." She also said, "I am definitely an abnormal and mentally unstable person," and "I kneel and apologize to my second child who met the worst mother."

Previously, Jang was tried on charges of repeatedly abusing Jeong-in from March to October last year, leading to her death. At the time of death, Jeong-in’s body was found with broken ribs and clavicle, and her pancreas was completely severed, according to investigations.

The first trial recognized that Jang inflicted strong shocks on Jeong-in and acknowledged conditional intent, convicting her of murder and sentencing her to life imprisonment.

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