12-Year-Old Abused and Killed After 16 Hours of Restraint... Stepmother Sentenced to Death Penalty Request

Biological Father Neglecting Abuse Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison
Prosecutors "Set Sentence Referencing the 'Jeong-in Case'"

The prosecution has sought the death penalty, the highest sentence in court, against a stepmother who abused her 12-year-old stepson by tying his hands and feet and making him stand punishment for long hours, leading to his death.

On the 14th, the prosecution requested the death penalty for A (43), who was indicted on charges including child abuse homicide under the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, at the sentencing hearing held at the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 15 (Presiding Judge Ryu Hojung). The prosecution also sought 10 years imprisonment for A's husband B (40), who was jointly indicted on charges including habitual child abuse under the Child Welfare Act.

The prosecution stated, "Defendant A viewed the victim only as an object for expressing anger, and the method of the crime was brutal," adding, "The recommended sentence is imprisonment for more than 20 years or life imprisonment, but we decided the sentence by referring to the 'Jung In case,' which has similar facts to this case." The prosecution also added, "It is unfortunate that the defendant had a miscarriage, but it is not the victim's fault."

Stepmother (left) and biological father who abused and killed their 12-year-old stepson [Photo by Yonhap News]

The victim's biological mother also attended the sentencing hearing that day. She appealed to the court, saying, "Please make a strict judgment," and the victim's legal counsel requested, "The defendants' crimes are very serious. Please impose the maximum punishment allowed by law."

A appeared in court wearing a light green prison uniform, holding a newborn wrapped in a blanket, who was recently born while she was detained in the detention center. In her final statement, she tearfully said, "I failed to fulfill the responsibilities I should have," and "I know that the crime of hurting a child whom I should have loved and protected cannot be forgiven for any reason." She also broke down in tears, saying, "I sincerely ask the child for forgiveness. I am sorry." B also said, "I blamed myself for not protecting my child and endured each day with difficulty," and "I deeply reflect on my foolish actions."

A has been on trial for allegedly repeatedly abusing and killing her stepson C (12) at her residence in Namdong-gu, Incheon, from March 9 last year to February 7 this year, with about 50 instances of abuse.

She often made C kneel for long hours as punishment for not properly copying the Bible, stabbed his thigh with a pencil, and beat his entire body with an aluminum rod and other objects. The biological father B was also indicted for abusing C about 15 times from April 2021 to last January, including hitting him with a drumstick, and neglecting the abuse by his wife A despite knowing about it.

It was investigated that after A had a miscarriage in April last year, she vented all her resentment on B and gradually increased the intensity of the abuse. At the time of death, C was 148

cm tall and weighed 29.5 kg. Due to abuse, C lost 8 kg over one year and had bruises and wounds all over his body. Two days before his death, C was blindfolded with clothes and had his hands and feet tied to a chair with curtain cords for 16 hours, during which A monitored him from outside the room using a 'home cam' similar to a CCTV. At that time, C was not attending school but was undergoing homeschooling at home.

The sentencing hearing for the couple A and B is scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. on the 25th of next month at the Incheon District Court.

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