'Assault on Jodusun' Trial by Jury for People in Their 20s to Be Held... Scheduled for May

Published 17 Mar.2022 14:54(KST)

Prosecution Requests Exclusion of 국민참여재판
Court: "Defendant's Rights"

A (22), who was arrested on the spot for assaulting Jo Doo-soon (70), a child sex offender, with a blunt weapon after entering his house, is leaving Ansan Danwon Police Station in Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of December 18 last year to undergo a pre-trial detention hearing. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] A citizen trial for a man in his 20s who broke into the home of child sex offender Jo Doo-soon (70) and struck Jo's head with a blunt weapon will be held in May.

The Criminal Division 12 of Suwon District Court (Presiding Judge Hwang In-seong) set the date for the citizen trial to May 18 during the preparatory hearing on the 17th for Mr. A (22), who was indicted on charges including special assault.

Earlier, Mr. A expressed his intention to have a citizen trial in January.

The prosecution stated, "Mr. A already admits to the facts of the crime. Only the court's legal judgment is necessary," and submitted an opinion to exclude the citizen trial, but it was not accepted.

The court said, "It is uncertain whether proceeding with a citizen trial will be advantageous or disadvantageous, but it will proceed as an exercise of the defendant's rights," and added, "Both sides are requested to prepare for the defendant's examination of Mr. A."

Mr. A was indicted on charges of breaking into Jo's residence and injuring him by striking his head with a blunt weapon around 8:50 p.m. on December 16 last year while intoxicated.

During police investigation, Mr. A stated, "I was angry about the sex crime Jo committed and went to his house with the intention of scaring him. I did hit him out of anger as soon as I saw him, but I do not remember the specific details clearly."

Mr. A was also caught by the police while attempting to break into Jo's home on February 9 of the same year.