'Gwanaksan Sexual Assault' Victim's Cause of Death Is Asphyxiation... Increased Possibility of 'Intent to Murder' (Comprehensive)

The National Forensic Service's (NFS) initial autopsy report revealed that the direct cause of death of the victim in the 'Gwanaksan Dulle-gil sexual assault' case was asphyxiation due to strangulation. The suspect, Choi Mo (30, in custody), claims he had no intent to kill, but this is likely to be used as evidence of homicidal intent.

Suspect Choi is leaving Gwanak Police Station for the warrant hearing held at the Seoul Central District Court on the 19th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 22nd, the Seoul Gwanak Police Station announced that they received the NFS's preliminary verbal autopsy opinion the previous day, which identified the direct cause of death as "hypoxic brain injury due to cervical compression asphyxia." A police official stated, "Subcutaneous scalp hemorrhage caused by external trauma was observed, but there was no brain hemorrhage, making it difficult to consider it the direct cause of death," adding, "We are conducting a broad investigation to clarify the circumstances and cause of death and will make a comprehensive judgment based on the final autopsy results."

Choi is accused of assaulting and sexually assaulting the victim, Ms. A, near a trail connected to a park in Sillim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, on the morning of the 17th. Ms. A was transported to the hospital in an unconscious state and received treatment but died on the 19th. Following her death, the police changed Choi's charge from rape causing injury to rape murder. Since the charge is rape murder rather than rape causing death, the police stated they would focus on proving intent to kill. The distinction between rape causing death and rape murder depends on the presence or absence of intent to kill. If there is intent to sexually assault and kill, it is rape murder; if there is no intent to kill, it is rape causing death, which results in a significant difference in sentencing. Rape causing death is punishable by life imprisonment or imprisonment of 10 years or more, whereas rape murder carries only life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Choi admitted to purchasing knuckles as a tool for the rape and wearing them on both hands while assaulting Ms. A but claims he had no intent to kill. During the pre-arrest detention hearing on the 19th, when asked by reporters if he intended to kill, Choi replied, "No." However, the NFS's initial autopsy opinion is expected to serve as strong evidence proving Choi's homicidal intent. Since the assault included strangulation, there is a high likelihood of a direct causal relationship between Choi's assault and the victim's death. Seung Jae-hyun, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Criminology and Justice Policy, said, "The fact that the direct cause of death was asphyxiation due to cervical compression strongly indicates intent," adding, "It can be seen that the act was maintained until the victim's death was perceived."

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency plans to hold a personal information disclosure committee on the 23rd to consider revealing Choi's face, real name, and age. Rape murder falls under crimes subject to personal information disclosure under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Specific Violent Crimes (Specific Violent Crimes Act). This law stipulates that when the crime is brutal and causes serious harm, there is sufficient evidence that the suspect committed the crime, and disclosure aligns with the public interest such as the right to know, prevention of recidivism, and crime prevention, the suspect's personal information may be disclosed.

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