'Wife Murder' Large Law Firm Lawyer Claims "No Intent to Kill" Despite Signs of Strangulation

Regarding the "35cm steel pipe" identified as the murder weapon, it was "a metal rod for cat play"

The defense team of Hyun Mo, a former lawyer at a major law firm who has been indicted for the murder of his wife, acknowledged the presence of 'cervical compression' marks found on the victim's body. These marks are typically left when strangulation occurs. However, they denied the intent to kill the victim.

Mr. A, a former attorney from a major law firm in the United States, accused of murdering his wife by beating her with a blunt object, is attending a pre-arrest suspect interrogation (warrant hearing) held last December afternoon at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

At the second trial held on the 28th at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 21 (Presiding Judge Heo Kyung-moo), Hyun’s defense attorney stated, "We acknowledge that the victim died as a result of the defendant (Hyun Mo)'s actions, but we absolutely deny that there was an intention to kill." He added, "This case should be regarded as an accidental death, not an incident where the defendant intended to kill." This is the first time Hyun’s side has expressed their position regarding the prosecution’s charges.

When Hyun’s defense attorney claimed there was 'no intent to kill,' the victim’s family members present at the scene cried out in protest.

Hyun is accused of killing his wife on the evening of December 3 last year at an apartment in Sajik-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, by repeatedly striking her head with a blunt object and strangling her. The incident occurred during an argument over divorce issues with his wife, from whom he was separated after filing for divorce.

The question of whether there was intent to kill is a crucial factor in determining the defendant’s sentence. Evidence such as the weapon used and the autopsy results on the victim are referenced to make this judgment. The prosecution stated in the indictment that Hyun used a "metal pipe measuring 35 cm in length and 2.5 cm in diameter" to "strike the victim’s forehead and head multiple times with great force."

However, Hyun’s defense attorney claimed that the "metal pipe" used in the crime was "a metal rod used for a cat play toy shared by the children."

Additionally, the prosecution identified the direct cause of the victim’s death as "hypovolemic shock and asphyxiation due to cervical compression." These are typical marks left when strangulation causes death, and the victim’s family argues that this supports the claim that Hyun committed an intentional murder. Based on bloodstain analysis reports, autopsy findings, forensic consultations, and integrated psychological analysis of Hyun, the prosecution concluded that the charge of intentional murder is justified. In response, Hyun’s defense acknowledged the presence of cervical compression but repeatedly insisted there was no intent to kill.

Meanwhile, Hyun was a lawyer affiliated with a major domestic law firm but reportedly resigned immediately after the incident. It is known that Hyun’s father is a former multi-term member of the National Assembly and a former prosecutor.

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