Police Consider Applying 'Child Abuse Homicide' Charge to Stepmother in 3-Year-Old Son's Abuse Death Case

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jung-yoon] The police are considering applying the charge of child abuse homicide to a woman in her 30s who was arrested for beating her 3-year-old stepson to death.

According to the police on the 28th, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is reviewing changing the charge against Ms. Lee (33), who was accused of child abuse causing death under the Child Abuse Punishment Act for brutally beating her stepson to death at her home in Cheonho-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul on the 20th, to child abuse homicide.

The child abuse homicide charge, newly established with the enactment of the amended Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, known as the 'Jeong-in Act,' which came into effect in March, carries a statutory penalty of death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for seven years or more. This is a much heavier punishment compared to the previous child abuse causing death charge, which carried life imprisonment or imprisonment for five years or more.

During the investigation, the police found circumstances indicating that Ms. Lee had at least implied intent to kill and had continuously abused her stepson over a long period, prompting consideration of changing the charge. The National Forensic Service, which conducted an autopsy on the deceased child, found not only a suspected direct cause of death?a rupture of the rectum (large intestine)?but also signs of brain hemorrhage, bruises, and old blood stains.

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