Suspect in Sindang Station Stalking Murder Case Wanders Near Victim's Former Home Before Crime

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] The police confirmed that the suspect in the Sindang Station stalking murder case wandered near the victim's former residence before committing the crime. It is presumed that he meticulously planned the crime, including checking the workplace twice through the Seoul Metro internal network before carrying out the act.

On the 18th, the Jungbu Police Station in Seoul announced that Mr. A (31), who is charged with retaliatory murder under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, used the Seoul Metro internal network and surveyed the area near the victim's previous residence before the crime.

According to the police, on the afternoon of the 14th, around 2:30 PM, after completing some banking tasks, Mr. A left his home carrying a weapon and a shower cap to wear on his head. The shower cap is presumed to have been taken to avoid leaving traces such as hair.

Mr. A used the internal network at Jeungsan Station in Seoul to check the victim’s workplace. During this process, he reportedly introduced himself as an employee working at Bulgwang Station to access the internal network.

After identifying the victim’s workplace, Mr. A went to the area near Gusan Station, where the victim’s former residence was located, and wandered around for about two hours. While wandering, Mr. A used the internal network again at Gusan Station to recheck the victim’s workplace and then returned to the victim’s former residence. Around 7 PM, he boarded the subway at Gusan Station and traveled to Sindang Station.

Based on these circumstances, the police believe Mr. A prepared the crime in a planned manner. This is why the police changed his charge from murder under the Criminal Act to retaliatory murder under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The minimum sentence for retaliatory murder under this act is 10 years or more, which is heavier than the 5 years or more for murder under the Criminal Act. However, Mr. A reportedly told the police that he was suffering from depression and that the murder was impulsive.

Mr. A killed the victim, who was on patrol, at Sindang Station in Seoul around 9 PM on the 14th. He waited in front of the women’s restroom for about 1 hour and 10 minutes before committing the crime. On the 16th, the court issued an arrest warrant for Mr. A, citing concerns about evidence destruction and flight risk.

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