Mother Given Probation for Attempting Extreme Suicide After Giving Sleeping Pills to Her Four Children

Crime due to financial distress... 3 years imprisonment with 5 years probation
Court urges "Hope you return to a happy family"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] A mother in her 40s who, despairing over financial difficulties, gave sleeping pills to her four minor children and attempted an extreme act has been sentenced to a suspended prison term.

On the 14th, the 1st Criminal Division of the Cheonan Branch of Daejeon District Court (Presiding Judge Seo Jeongyo) sentenced A (40, female), who was tried on charges of attempted murder, to three years in prison with a five-year suspension, along with probation and completion of a 40-hour child abuse treatment program.

A is accused of attempting to kill her four minor children by giving them sleeping pills at her home in Asan-si, Chungnam Province, on the afternoon of July 31. She then attempted to take her own life but gave up when one of the children woke up crying and directly reported the crime to 119. At the time, A told the police, "I suddenly felt guilty when I saw the children who did not fall asleep even after taking the sleeping pills." It is known that A was experiencing financial difficulties due to the cost of raising four children, living expenses, and hospital bills for her eldest child who was ill. At the time of the crime, A’s husband was away working in another region and was not at home. It has been reported that there are no health issues with the children who took the sleeping pills.

The court stated, "The most favorable point in this case is that the defendant changed her mind and took active rescue measures when the child woke up crying, so the children did not suffer any injuries," and explained the sentencing reason: "If the defendant had intended to cover up the incident without reporting it, she could have done so, but she reported it out of concern for the children’s safety, which shows that she stopped in time and did not proceed further." The court also considered that the defendant was not extravagant and was facing financial difficulties due to living and child-rearing expenses. Furthermore, the court added, "Until now, the defendant seemed to have been raising her children diligently and doing her best in parenting," and urged, "Since the young victims still need the defendant’s care, despite the unfortunate incident, we hope they can return to a happy family."

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