Man Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Beating Live-in Partner's Son into Coma

Incheon District Court "Strict Punishment for Frequent Physical and Emotional Abuse"
Sentences 2 Years Imprisonment to Biological Mother in Her 20s

Common-law partner and biological mother who abused a 5-year-old boy
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The court has handed down a heavy sentence to a man in his 20s who abused his live-in girlfriend's 5-year-old son, causing him to fall into a coma due to a cerebral hemorrhage.

The Criminal Division 13 of Incheon District Court (Chief Judge Ho Seong-ho) sentenced A (28), who was indicted on charges including child abuse causing serious injury under the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, to 10 years in prison at the sentencing hearing held on the 24th.

He was also ordered to complete a 40-hour child abuse treatment program and was restricted from working at child-related institutions for 10 years.

B (28), A's live-in girlfriend and the biological mother of the victim child, who was also indicted on charges including child abuse under the Child Welfare Act, was sentenced to 2 years in prison.

A was arrested and indicted on charges of abusing B's son C (5) at a villa in Namdong-gu, Incheon, in June, causing the child to fall into a coma.

At that time, C, who had lost consciousness, showed symptoms of cerebral hemorrhage and was transported by the 119 emergency medical team to a nearby hospital where he underwent emergency surgery, but he has not regained consciousness to this day.

Investigations revealed that A abused C about 20 times, including grabbing C's neck and lifting him up because he cried frequently, throwing him into the washbasin, and slapping him.

B, who was also physically abused by A, was found to have abused her son by hitting his head four times with a mobile phone and was arrested and indicted.

The court said regarding A, "The defendant was in a position to be called 'dad' by the victim child and to protect and raise him, but without any clear reason, he repeatedly inflicted physical and emotional abuse," adding, "The victim has not regained consciousness and is currently unable to breathe independently," and imposed a heavy sentence.

However, the court took into account that A admitted most of the crimes and has an intellectual disability that makes emotional control difficult.

Regarding B, the court stated, "Although she witnessed frequent physical abuse by A, she did not actively stop it and passively neglected it, so her responsibility is not light," but also noted, "Considering that she is a first-time offender and admitted the crimes."

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