‘Iron Rod Murder’ Sports Center CEO... Prosecution Seeks Life Imprisonment

Prosecution: "Killed in a bizarre and brutal manner"
Defense attorney: "Object mistake due to diminished mental capacity"

The representative of a children's sports center, accused of killing an employee by damaging their organs with a 70cm stick, is being transferred to the prosecution at Seodaemun Police Station in Seoul on the 7th. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] The prosecution has demanded a life sentence for the representative of a children's sports center who is accused of stabbing an employee to death with a metal rod while intoxicated.

At the sentencing hearing held on the 23rd at the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 12 (Presiding Judge Andongbeom), the prosecution stated, "A severe sentence corresponding to the crime must be imposed to console the victim who passed away without even knowing the reason and the bereaved families who lost their precious loved ones in an instant."

The prosecution added, "Despite brutally and bizarrely murdering an innocent victim, the defendant even blamed the insufficient response of the police officers who arrived at the scene for the victim's death," and said, "Such groundless claims have further intensified the pain of the bereaved families."

In response, the defendant Mr. Han (40)’s lawyer argued, "It was not to blame the police officers nor to shift responsibility," and "It was out of the thought, 'Maybe (the victim) could survive,' that we inquired with the National Forensic Service."

The lawyer continued, "The defendant trusted the victim so much that he entrusted the center's operation entirely to him, and they were important to each other," and claimed, "The defendant, under the influence of medication, mistook the victim for a pervert and attacked and reported him. This indicates a state of diminished mental capacity to that extent. This corresponds to a mistake of fact."

Lastly, the lawyer appealed, "Although the defendant was intoxicated and cannot remember, he admitted all his faults during the investigation and trial process," and "While the bereaved families cannot forgive the defendant for this crime, since there was no grudge or problem with the victim, there was no reason to kill him cruelly, so please take this into consideration."

Mr. Han also said, "I apologize to the victim, family, and acquaintances who suffered because of my wrongful actions," and "I know that no matter what I say, my crime cannot be mitigated, so I will live each day with a repentant heart."

The sentencing for Mr. Han is scheduled for the 16th of next month.

Mr. Han was indicted on charges of murder for repeatedly assaulting the victim while drinking together around December 30 of last year and pushing a sports rod into the victim’s buttocks, who had collapsed, causing death.

Meanwhile, during the trial, the bereaved families and acquaintances shed tears or struck their chests while saying things like, "Would you do the same if it were your own son?" during the defendant’s questioning.

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