Lee Gi-young Calmly Admits Crime at Sentencing Trial... "I Will Accept Severe Punishment"

"I accept the severe punishment."

Lee Gi-young (32), who was detained and indicted on charges of murdering his cohabiting partner and a taxi driver, remained calm. At the sentencing hearing held on the 12th at the Uijeongbu District Court Goyang Branch Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Choi Jong-won), Lee Gi-young admitted all the charges brought by the prosecution as before. In his final statement, he said, "There is no excuse whatsoever for the crime," and "I ask the court to impose a heavy sentence to prevent social unrest."

Lee Gi-young had consistently admitted to the charges since the investigation. Since the body of his cohabiting partner, presumed to have been killed about eight months ago, was not found, the authorities had to establish the crime based on indirect evidence such as bloodstains. Nevertheless, he said at the first trial, "I accept all the charges without objection." With him admitting all charges without denial, the trial proceeded swiftly, concluding the arguments and sentencing request at the second hearing.

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The prosecution requested the court to impose the death penalty, the highest legal sentence, regardless of whether the defendant admitted the charges. The prosecution stated, "Although Lee Gi-young admits to the crimes, he lived a life of luxury using the victims' money, which is an unforgivable crime."

They added, "We cannot imagine the extent of the victim's grievance over the still undiscovered body and the fear and pain felt by the victim's family who lost their beloved husband and father in an instant," emphasizing, "The only way to alleviate their grievance and pain even a little is for the defendant to receive a severe punishment commensurate with his crimes."

Lee Gi-young's defense attorney, in the final argument, said, "The defendant is remorseful and is making efforts to compensate the bereaved families," and requested the court to "schedule the next trial date with some flexibility to achieve results." The court decided to hold the sentencing for Lee Gi-young on the 19th of next month.

Lee Gi-young was brought to trial on charges of murdering A (50), his cohabiting partner and landlord, on the afternoon of August 3 last year at his residence in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, by striking A's head more than ten times with a blunt weapon to seize A's mobile phone and credit card. He is also charged with abandoning A's body along the Gongneung Stream area in Paju the following day.

He is also accused of murdering taxi driver B (59) by striking B's forehead twice with a blunt weapon and hiding the body in a wardrobe on December 20 last year after luring him home to cover up a minor drunk driving collision. The prosecution added a charge of retaliatory murder, believing that beyond financial motives, Lee Gi-young, a repeat offender for drunk driving, intended to prevent a prison sentence by avoiding police reporting.

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