"The 6th Grade Public Official Claimed 'Not in Normal State of Mind' When Throwing Stone That Killed Delivery Worker"

Delivery motorcycle couriers are busily navigating the downtown area. Not related to the courier.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] A public official in his 50s, who threw roadside tree boundary stones onto the road, causing the death of a 20-year-old motorcycle rider, claimed diminished mental capacity.

The Criminal Division 12 of Daejeon District Court (Presiding Judge Yoo Seok-cheol) held a pretrial hearing on the 12th for Mr. A (58), a grade 6 public official of Daejeon City, who was indicted on charges of injury resulting in death.

Mr. A's defense attorney argued, "There was no intent to commit the crime, and he was in a state of diminished mental capacity at the time." They also cited psychiatric treatment history to explain that Mr. A was not in a normal state.

The court plans to review submitted materials such as medical records to determine whether the illnesses previously treated by the defendant qualify as diminished mental capacity or mental incapacity.

Meanwhile, on November 6 of last year, Mr. A threw a boundary stone measuring 44 cm in length and 12 cm in height, which was on the roadside, onto a four-lane road in both directions in Wolpyeong-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon. Mr. B, a man in his 20s riding a motorcycle, could not avoid it and tripped over.

At the time, Mr. B was reportedly riding the motorcycle to deliver food when the accident occurred. He was transported to a nearby hospital immediately after the accident and received treatment but ultimately passed away.

Following the incident, Daejeon City took personnel action against Mr. A and decided to suspend him from his position.

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