Father Causes Death of Newborn by Giving Zolpidem... "It Was a Mistake"

Published 22 Jun.2023 17:15(KST)

Causing a Fall Accident and Neglecting After Showing Adverse Reaction

The biological father who fed milk mixed with zolpidem to a two-week-old newborn denied the charges, claiming it was "given by mistake."

The photo is unrelated to the article content. [Photo source=Pixabay]

At the first pretrial hearing held on the morning of the 22nd at the Daejeon District Court Criminal Division 11 (Presiding Judge Choi Seok-jin), A, a man in his 40s indicted on charges including violation of the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes (child abuse resulting in death), stated, "The medicine containing zolpidem was not given intentionally but by mistake."

Earlier, A was indicted on charges of feeding milk mixed with zolpidem to a two-week-old newborn, born from a common-law relationship with his wife, while caring for the child alone on January 13.

Zolpidem is a medication used for short-term treatment of insomnia and can cause side effects such as respiratory problems or vomiting; therefore, it is regulated not to be administered to children.

Subsequently, A abused the child by dropping the baby on the floor, causing head injuries, after the child was in a dangerous condition such as hypothermia from drinking the milk, and it was revealed that despite the child vomiting and losing consciousness, he did not report it out of fear of being arrested.

Regarding not calling 119 after the child's fall, he said, "I was afraid of being punished because I was wanted for fraud," but also claimed, "I performed artificial respiration and did not neglect the child."

The court plans to continue questioning by summoning A, the woman in a common-law relationship with him, and two advisory committee members as witnesses on the 17th of next month.