"Gu-ro Random Murderer Sentenced to 35 Years in First Trial, 'Gwanse-eum Bosal Ordered It'"

Law: "Committing cruel crimes but only offering unacceptable excuses"

Choi Mo (42), a Chinese national in his 40s who assaulted a stranger with a road curb (yeonseok), causing death, was transferred from Geumcheon Police Station in Seoul to the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office on May 20./Photo by Yoo Byung-don tamond@

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] A Chinese man in his 40s who assaulted a stranger with a road curb (curbstone), causing the victim's death, was sentenced to 35 years in prison in the first trial.

The Criminal Division 13 of the Seoul Southern District Court (Chief Judge Lee Sang-joo) held a sentencing hearing 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, and sentenced him to 35 years in prison. In addition, he was ordered to wear an electronic location tracking device for 10 years and complete a 40-hour drug addiction rehabilitation education program.

The court stated, "The defendant committed a brutal crime by violently striking the victim's head with a heavy road curb to rob property from an unspecified victim and evade punishment," adding, "Nevertheless, he showed no remorse for his crime and only gave an incomprehensible excuse that the Bodhisattva of Compassion (Gwanseeum Bosal) made him do it, so a severe punishment is inevitable."

Earlier, during the closing arguments, the prosecution demanded a life sentence, stating, "The defendant assaulted the victim while under the influence of methamphetamine and struck him with a curb, causing death," and "He also assaulted a junk dealer pulling a cart, showing the heinous nature of his crimes."

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 crime because the Bodhisattva of Compassion made me do it," and "I also used methamphetamine because the Bodhisattva told me to 'play with it.'"

When asked by the court if he felt any 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 sorry for the victims in my conscience."

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 was striking 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 unjustified."

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

Choi is also charged with assaulting an elderly man in his 80s who was pulling a cart collecting scrap metal nearby while fleeing immediately after the crime.

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