Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty Again for Serial Killer Kwon Jae-chan in Second Trial... Sentencing on July 16

The prosecution has also demanded the death penalty in the appellate trial for Kwon Jae-chan, who was sentenced to death in the first trial on charges of serial murder.

Kwon Jae-chan [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 3rd, the prosecution demanded the death penalty in Kwon's appellate trial held before the 7th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judges Lee Gyu-hong, Lee Ji-young, Kim Seul-gi), just as in the original trial. The sentencing hearing will be held on the 16th of next month.

During the defendant's questioning and final statement that day, Kwon Jae-chan said, "I have committed a grave sin against the victims and their families, so I accept the death penalty," adding, "Even after death, I feel I will not be forgiven, and it is difficult to breathe with guilt."

He continued, "I did not appeal to reduce the sentence; I was forced to do so," and requested, "Since a life sentence or death penalty means nothing to me, please dismiss the appeal." If a sentence of life imprisonment or higher is imposed, the defendant cannot forgo appeal and final appeal.

Kwon Jae-chan's lawyer said, "He has attempted suicide more than three times in detention and struggles with guilt, saying the victims appear every time he closes his eyes," and requested, "Please show some leniency."

Kwon was indicted on charges of strangling a woman in her 50s, Ms. A, whom he had known, to death around 7 a.m. on December 4, 2021, in an underground parking lot of a commercial building in Michuhol-gu, Incheon, and then disposing of her body in the trunk of a passenger car. During this process, he withdrew 4.5 million won in cash using Ms. A's credit card and took belongings worth about 11 million won.

Furthermore, Kwon is also charged with killing his coworker Mr. B, who helped him dispose of Ms. A's body and withdraw cash, by bludgeoning him in a mountain near Eulwang-ri, Jung-gu, Incheon, the next day, and secretly burying the body.

The first trial sentenced him to death, stating, "There is no possibility of reform or recovery of humanity for the defendant." The death sentence in the first trial was the first in two years and seven months since Ahn In-deuk, who committed arson and murder in an apartment in Jinju in November 2019.

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