"'Shillim-dong Weapon Rampage' Chosun Appeals, Saying 'Life Imprisonment Is Too Harsh'... Prosecution Demands Death Penalty"

In the Sillim-dong area of Gwanak-gu, Seoul, Cho Seon, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial for wielding a weapon in broad daylight and causing four casualties, appealed in the first hearing of the appellate trial, claiming that the sentence was too harsh.

'Shillim-dong Weapon Rampage Case' Defendant Sent to Trial Chosun
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

At the first hearing of Cho's appeal trial on charges including murder, held on the 20th at the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 8 (Presiding Judges Kim Jae-ho, Kim Kyung-ae, Seo Jeon-gyo), Cho's lawyer stated, "He admits to all the charges and expresses remorse to the victims," but added, "We are appealing due to the excessive sentencing." They argued that the life sentence given in the first trial was too severe. Cho, who attended the trial, did not speak directly.

The prosecution stated, "Although life imprisonment is not a light sentence, considering the extreme disregard for human life in the murder, the great pain of the bereaved families, the defendant's unrepentant attitude including mentioning sentence reduction, and the cruelty and brutality involved, there are special circumstances warranting the death penalty, and thus we are appealing." The prosecution had previously sought the death penalty in the first trial.

At the trial, two cousins of the deceased victim were accepted as sentencing witnesses. Sentencing witnesses are those whom the court refers to when determining the sentence.

Cho is accused of stabbing and killing a man in his twenties near Exit 4 of Sillim Station on Subway Line 2 in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, around 2 p.m. on July 21 last year, and of wielding a weapon against three other men with intent to kill, but failing to do so. In January, the first trial court sentenced Cho to life imprisonment and ordered the attachment of an electronic tracking device for 30 years.

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