Prosecution Indicts Neighbor for Attempted Murder in 'Brutal Assault on Elderly Woman Living Alone'

A patient with schizophrenia who brutally assaulted an elderly person living alone on the floor below in the same villa has been indicted and is now on trial for attempted murder after the prosecution conducted a supplementary investigation.

Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

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The Criminal Division 1 of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office (headed by Chief Prosecutor Shin Douk) announced on the 15th that it had indicted the suspect while in custody on charges of attempted murder for violently assaulting an 85-year-old woman residing on the lower floor of the same villa, causing her serious injuries. The suspect was suffering from both schizophrenia and bipolar affective disorder. Authorities determined that this was a case of an “atypical motive crime,” in which the perpetrator targeted an unspecified victim for no particular reason.

The victim sustained severe injuries, including multiple fractures to 16 ribs, as a result of the assault. During the police investigation, the case was initially sent to the prosecution on charges including violation of the Elderly Welfare Act, which calls for aggravated punishment for harm against the elderly. At the time of the crime, there were no witnesses, and the victim had lost her memory due to shock, making it difficult to determine the exact circumstances of the incident.

However, the prosecution suspected homicidal intent based on the suspect’s psychiatric history, the crime scene, and photos of the horrific injuries, and therefore launched a full-scale supplementary investigation.

The prosecution obtained and analyzed all copies of the victim’s medical records and visited the hospital where the victim was hospitalized to directly check her condition. They then consulted forensic scientists and neurosurgeons from the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office Medical Advisory Committee, and additionally received a bloodstain analysis report from the police for cross-verification.

The investigation revealed that the suspect strangled the victim and repeatedly struck or kicked critical areas such as the head and chest of the victim, who was lying down, using his heels and instep, inflicting brutal violence. Based on this thorough investigation, the prosecution was able to clearly establish the suspect’s “intent to kill” and brought charges of attempted murder, a more serious offense than the initial assault charges filed by the police.

The prosecution stated, “During the supplementary investigation, we received and utilized the bloodstain analysis report from the police to establish the charges, working in close cooperation with the primary investigative agency,” adding, “We will continue to do our utmost to uncover the truth of the case through meticulous supplementary investigations.”

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