'Valley Murder' Lee Eun-hae's Second Trial Begins… Prosecution: "Direct, Not Indirect, Murder"

Suspect Lee Eun-hae (31) in the 'Valley Murder' case is entering the Incheon District Court in Michuhol-gu, Incheon City on the afternoon of April 19 to attend a pre-arrest detention hearing (warrant review). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] In the first appeal trial of Lee Eunhae (31), accused of the 'valley murder,' the prosecution emphasized that the crime should be viewed as direct murder rather than indirect murder.

On the afternoon of the 14th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6-1 (Presiding Judge Won Jongchan, Judges Jeong Chongryeong and Kang Gyeongpyo) held the first appeal trial of Lee Eunhae, who was indicted on charges including murder and attempted murder.

In court that day, the prosecutor stated, "We seek a re-evaluation in the appeal trial regarding whether psychological domination was present." The prosecutor argued, "The first trial acquitted the defendant of the act of commission murder (direct murder), partly because the victim was not under psychological domination by Lee Eunhae. However, according to the expert opinion submitted by the prosecution in the original trial, it can be sufficiently recognized that the victim was in a state of psychological domination." The prosecutor also requested the court to appoint a professional psychological expert to verify the state of psychological domination.

Lee Eunhae and her accomplice Jo Hyunsoo (30) claimed innocence. They appealed that "there was no conspiracy between them, and appropriate rescue actions were taken," arguing that the sentence in the first trial was too harsh.

Earlier, they were arrested and indicted on charges of killing husband A by forcing him to jump from a 4-meter-high rock into a 3-meter-deep valley pool without rescue equipment at Yongsogyeok Valley in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, on June 30, 2019. They are also accused of attempting to kill A by feeding him food mixed with pufferfish poison and other substances in February and May 2019 or by drowning him in a fishing spot. Investigations revealed that Lee Eunhae economically exploited A for years, and when his financial situation collapsed and his utility value declined, she planned with her lover Jo Hyunsoo to kill A and claim 800 million won in life insurance benefits.

The first trial concluded this case as indirect murder and sentenced Lee Eunhae to life imprisonment. Jo Hyunsoo was sentenced to 30 years in prison. While the court did not accept the prosecution's claim of 'act of commission murder' through gaslighting (psychological domination), it recognized the charge of 'act of omission murder' (indirect murder) as guilty.

When a prohibited act is directly executed, it is called an 'act of commission,' and when a required act is not performed, it is called an 'act of omission.' Generally, sentences for murder by act of commission are much harsher than those for murder by act of omission.

The first trial court found that they forced A, who could not swim, to jump into the valley and, despite recognizing that leaving him drowning could result in death, did not take rescue measures.

Furthermore, the court stated, "The defendants conspired and executed planned murder of the victim multiple times, yet without any remorse, claimed the victim's life insurance money for economic gain. The victim, who had devoted love and dedication to defendant Lee Eunhae, died in extreme fear and pain, unaware that he was being murdered due to the greed of his beloved wife and trusted acquaintance."

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