"Sorry for Making It Hard"... 12-Year-Old's Diary Reveals Self-Blame Despite Abuse Before Death

'Child Abuse Murder' Disclosed at Third Trial Session

"My mother treated my calf, got stressed, and I am sorry for making my younger siblings and father suffer during that time."

This is a diary written by a 12-year-old elementary school student who died covered in bruises due to abuse by his stepmother.

In the third trial of stepmother A (43), who was indicted on charges including child abuse homicide, the diary revealed on the 30th of last month by the 15th Criminal Division of Incheon District Court (Chief Judge Ryu Hojung) was filled with self-blaming content from B (the deceased, 12 years old) who was abused on June 1 of last year.

Stepchild's habitual abuse by stepmother and biological father leads to the death of elementary school student B last month. The left photo shows him tied to a chair two days before his death.
[Photo source=SBS news screen capture]

B wrote, "Mother woke me up at 6:30 today, but I wasn’t focused and by 7:30 I had only written 10 verses (of the Bible)," and "Mother told me to do it properly, but I messed around."

He continued, "Every day, because of the Bible, mother and father can’t sleep well and are tired, and I am thankful that they wake me up at 6:30 every day, but I didn’t know and came out late until 7:40," expressing remorse.

The diary also hints at abuse in November of the same year. He wrote, "Mother tied me to a chair as she said and left, it was really terrible," and "Tomorrow, I will only do what she tells me to do because I never want to be tied up again."

In December, he wrote in the diary that "I knelt and was punished. I was tied to a chair," and also said, "I will die soon."

In court that day, home cam footage showing A tying B’s eyes with a headband, binding him to a chair, and B’s body covered with bruises from prolonged abuse was also revealed.

A, dressed in a light green prison uniform, appeared in court holding a newborn baby she recently gave birth to. She admitted to abusing B but claimed she was under severe stress at the time of the crime.

Regarding B’s diary, she said, "There were days when the family went on outings and many other days, but it seems only some parts were written in the diary," and "I think it’s because he was made to reflect on his mistakes while writing the diary."

Stepmother A and biological father B, who are accused of abusing and causing the death of their 12-year-old elementary school son, are entering the Incheon District Court on February 10th to undergo a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

A claimed, "I had to take care of the child, but it was very difficult mentally and physically," and "I couldn’t handle it, so I was looking into going down to my in-laws’ place and was also planning to study abroad, so I needed to discuss it with my husband, but it wasn’t a situation where we could have a big conversation."

She added, "(While homeschooling B instead of sending him to school) the child liked music, so he studied a lot of music like guitar and piano," and "I provided academic guidance and study, but since the child was stressed, I let him spend time doing what he wanted rather than studying."

During the trial, CCTV footage from the day before B’s death was also shown. B was seen being beaten by A, tied to a chair for a long time, then limping as he walked to a convenience store. After buying three bottles of drinks, he sat inside the store until he was found by A and her acquaintance and returned home.

The investigation report released by the prosecution included A’s claims during police questioning that "my son (B) masturbated at school" and "he has ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)." However, B’s homeroom teacher testified, "He never did such acts and never showed symptoms."

The prosecution explained, "Bloodstains were found on pencils, scissors, and compasses that appear to have been used for abuse," and "In the room where the victim was tied to a chair for 16 hours, a trash can containing urine was found."

A was arrested and indicted on charges of repeatedly beating and abusing her stepson B about 50 times over 11 months from March 9 last year to February 7 this year in an apartment in Namdong-gu, Incheon, resulting in his death. It was investigated that after A miscarried in April last year, she vented all her resentment on B and gradually abused him more severely.

B’s biological father C was also indicted on charges of abusing B 15 times with a drumstick from April 2021 to last January, believing that B was the cause of family discord, and neglecting A’s abuse despite knowing about it.

While being repeatedly abused by his parents over a long period, B’s weight dropped from 38 kg at age 10 to 29.5 kg on the day of his death, and bruises and wounds were found all over his body at the time of death.

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