Life Prisoner Kim Sinhye's Side: "Diluted Sleeping Pills in Yangju? Let's Demonstrate in Court"

Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Patricide but Retrial Granted
Preparation Hearing on 28th, Next Trial on July 17th

Attorney for Kim Sinhye (46), who was sentenced to life imprisonment for allegedly killing her father but is now undergoing a retrial, requested to verify in court whether 'whiskey laced with sleeping pills' could have been used as the murder weapon.

At the retrial preparation hearing held on the morning of the 28th at the Gwangju District Court Haenam Branch Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Park Hyunsoo), attorney Park Junyoung proposed, "It is very difficult to make someone consume drugs mixed with whiskey. It also does not dilute well." Park said, "Let's verify in court what difficulties there are in diluting a large amount of drugs in whiskey," and applied to submit related pills and tools as evidence.

Based on the autopsy results stating that "there was no trace of a large amount of drugs consumed in the stomach contents of the deceased," Kim's side applied to call the autopsy doctor from the 2000 case and the director of the National Forensic Service as witnesses. Attorney Park explained, "We confirmed from the National Archives that photos showing the stomach contents were attached to the autopsy report," adding, "We believe the autopsy doctor also keeps the original photos with good resolution."

Kim's side also applied to call a pharmacist affiliated with a pharmaceutical company who responded to an opinion inquiry during the police investigation as a witness.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, Kim's side applied to call detainees who were in the police station detention center with Kim in 2000, as well as acquaintances who accompanied her to the police station, as witnesses, claiming they will prove police coercion and harsh treatment. To demonstrate circumstances of consistent and detailed claims of innocence over a long period, a correctional officer who had many conversations with Kim at Cheongju Women's Prison was also listed as a witness by Kim's side.

Kim's side requested the court to admit as evidence and view in court investigative journalism programs from 2001 and 2003 containing testimonies that the deceased regularly took painkillers and antibiotics for toothache. The prosecution announced it would submit forensic advisory reports to refute these claims and apply to call about ten witnesses.

Kim was indicted in March 2000 for giving her father whiskey containing a sleeping pill and killing him in Wando, Jeonnam, and abandoning the body. In March 2001, her life sentence was finalized. Kim claimed she made a false confession after her uncle said, "I think your younger sibling did it," and with recognition of illegal police investigation, a retrial was decided in November 2015.

The retrial began in March 2019 but was postponed due to Kim's side changing attorneys and canceling the appointment of a public defender, and resumed last month. The next trial is scheduled for 10 a.m. on the 17th of next month.

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