'Inha University Sexual Assault and Fall Death' Perpetrator Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison... "No Premeditated Intent to Murder"

Incheon District Court Applies Quasi-Rape Resulting in Death Charge... "Failed to Report or Fulfill Even Minimal Duty After Fall"

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] The court sentenced the male student accused in the 'Inha University sexual assault and fall death' case to a heavy sentence, applying the charge of quasi-rape resulting in death instead of murder.

The Criminal Division 12 of Incheon District Court (Presiding Judge Im Eunha) sentenced former Inha University student A (21), who was arrested and indicted on charges of killing a peer female student by causing her to fall from a building while attempting to sexually assault her on the Inha University campus (quasi-rape murder under the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes), to 20 years in prison.

The court also ordered A to complete 80 hours of a sexual violence treatment program and restricted him from working at institutions related to children, adolescents, or persons with disabilities for 10 years.

The court stated, "The defendant used the victim, who was an ordinary peer at the same school, as a tool to satisfy his sexual desire and attempted to sexually assault her while she was in an unconscious state. After the crime, he did nothing to help the victim who had fallen 8 meters below and was lying unconscious, nor did he perform the minimum human duty such as calling 112 or 119, which is highly condemnable."

It added, "The victim was a university freshman who lost her precious life without even being able to pursue her dreams. She was left alone on the street for nearly two hours in the dark night, and it is difficult to even imagine the physical and mental shock she must have endured until her death."

'Inha University Sexual Assault and Fall Death' Perpetrator Male Student [Photo by Yonhap News]

However, the court did not recognize the charge of murder by implied intent applied to A.

The court explained, "The defendant, who was heavily intoxicated, does not appear to have recognized the danger when committing the act. He also left his mobile phone, ID card, and the victim’s wallet at the fall site, which suggests he did not attempt to conceal the crime."

It continued, "Before the crime, the defendant had ordinary conversations with the victim during drinking occasions, and there was no reason for any dispute or bad feelings afterward. There is no benefit the defendant would gain from the victim’s death, and it is difficult to acknowledge that he intended to kill the victim while risking severe punishment."

Earlier, the police had sent A to prosecution on charges of quasi-rape resulting in death, as they could not prove intent to murder, but the prosecution indicted him on charges of quasi-rape murder, asserting implied intent to kill.

Murder by implied intent is recognized when the perpetrator foresees the possibility of death and accepts it as unavoidable.

The prosecution explained, "A, who was completely unconscious due to heavy intoxication at the time, attempted to sexually assault the victim who lacked self-protection ability and caused her to fall to her death. The place where the victim fell was 8 meters above ground, with the window ledge directly connected to the outer wall, and the first-floor ground was asphalt, making it a structure where falling could result in death."

At the sentencing hearing held on December 19 last year, the prosecution demanded a life sentence for A.

A is accused of attempting to sexually assault first-year female student B in a five-story college building on the Inha University campus in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, in the early morning of July 15 last year, causing her to fall and die.

After B fell to the first floor, A discarded her clothes in another location and fled to his rented room, and was arrested by police that afternoon.

B was left bleeding alone on the roadside in front of the building for about an hour and a half after the fall, was found by a passerby and taken to the hospital, but died three hours later.

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