"Claim of Diminished Responsibility Unjust" Prosecutors Demand Life Sentence for Guro Random Murderer

Defendant's Closing Argument: "I Did It Because Avalokitesvara Told Me... I Don't Remember"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The prosecution has demanded a life sentence for a man in his 40s of Chinese nationality who assaulted a stranger with a road curb (curbstone), causing his death.

The Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Presiding Judge Lee Sang-joo) held a trial session at 3 p.m. on the 16th for Choi (42), who was arrested and indicted on charges of robbery-murder and violation of the Narcotics Control Act.

At the trial, the prosecution stated, "The defendant assaulted the victim while under the influence of methamphetamine and struck him with a curb, causing death," adding, "He also assaulted a junk dealer pulling a handcart, showing the severity of his crimes," as the reason for the sentence demand.

In response, Choi’s defense attorney argued for mitigation due to diminished mental capacity, stating, "He was intoxicated by drugs at the time of the crime."

Choi testified, "I do not remember the incident because it was done under the instruction of Gwanseeum Bosal (Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva)," and added, "I also used methamphetamine because Gwanseeum Bosal told me to 'play with it.'"

When asked by the court if he felt remorse toward the victims, he said, "I have no memory of hitting someone with a stone and killing them," but added, "Although it was not me, since everyone says I did it, I feel a conscience-based apology to the victims."

The prosecution rebutted, "The CCTV footage clearly shows the defendant’s awareness that the victim was a person, that it was a robbery, and that he struck with the curb," and "He had the awareness to make his own tools to inhale drugs, and after analyzing various evidence, the claim of diminished mental capacity is unjust."

Choi, a Korean-Chinese, was arrested and indicted for assaulting a man in his 60s at around 6 a.m. on the 11th of last month in front of a park in Guro-gu, while under the influence of methamphetamine, stealing 476,000 won in cash, and killing him by hitting him with a road curb.

Additionally, Choi is also charged with assaulting an man in his 80s who was pulling a handcart and collecting scrap nearby while fleeing immediately after the crime.

The sentencing hearing for Choi is scheduled to be held at 2:10 p.m. next month at the Seoul Southern District Court.

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