"I Want to Swap Brains with the Judge" Goyujeong, an Intended Final Statement?

"The person wanted it done their way, then nothing would have happened"
Expert: "That person commit murder?... An intention to raise such suspicion"

The prosecution demanded the death penalty for Ko Yu-jeong (37), who was arrested and indicted on charges of murdering her ex-husband and stepson, at Ko's sentencing hearing held at the Jeju District Court on the 20th. The photo shows Ko Yu-jeong arriving at the Jeju District Court in September last year for her third trial. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] Ko Yoo-jeong (37), who was detained and indicted on charges of murdering her ex-husband and stepson, denied her crime in her final statement at the sentencing trial held on the afternoon of the 10th at Jeju District Court Criminal Division 2 (Presiding Judge Jung Bong-gi), saying, "I want to ride a time machine and swap brains with the judge and me. It's not true at all."

Experts analyzed that Ko Yoo-jeong's statement was an intentional strategy.

Profiler Bae Sang-hoon, who appeared on MBC Radio on the 10th, analyzed, "(Ko Yoo-jeong's statement) is an emotional appeal saying my body feels suffocated, wanting to express that suffocation." He added, "Although she is saying such irrational things, from the courtroom perspective, it is also possible to think, 'How frustrated must she be to say such things even when the judge is speaking?'"

In her final statement that day, Ko Yoo-jeong said, "If I had killed him, (the stepson) wouldn't appear in my dreams looking so beautiful," and sobbed, "I have endured painful days because of this case. If only I had done what he wanted, nothing would have happened. Although the child lost his father and mother and has grandparents, my heart aches when I think of the child."

On June 1st last year, at around 10:32 AM, Go Yoo-jeong was urgently arrested by detectives from the Jeju Dongbu Police Station on charges including murder in an underground parking lot of an apartment in Cheongju, Chungbuk. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Profiler Bae Sang-hoon commented on Ko Yoo-jeong's statements, saying, "Whether intentional or not, this is a kind of 'fool strategy' that defendants often use in American trials," and added, "The defendant tries to make the trial itself feel foolish, raising doubts like 'Would such a person really commit murder?' Of course, this might not be appropriate in non-jury trials, but since judges are human, this strategy might work."

On the same day, Ko Yoo-jeong also said, "The only place I can trust is the court. Please review the materials once more and reconsider. I believe that someday everything will be revealed."

Following this, Ko Yoo-jeong's lawyer presented a video in court in which the defendant's son talks about the situation at the time of the (ex-husband murder) incident.

The lawyer said, "The defendant's son says that his mother was hurt after being attacked by the victim (ex-husband)," implying that the victim, Ko Yoo-jeong's ex-husband, attempted sexual assault against her.

Regarding this, the lawyer urged the court for a reasonable verdict, stating, "The prosecution's charges regarding the stepson's murder are absurd beyond what one would see even in novels. There is no overwhelming evidence proving that the defendant committed the crime."

Ko Yoo-jeong was brought to trial on charges of murder, corpse mutilation, and concealment after stabbing her ex-husband Mr. Kang with a weapon between 8:10 p.m. and 9:50 p.m. on May 25 last year at a pension in Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, and then mutilating and disposing of the body.

Additionally, Ko Yoo-jeong was further indicted on charges of murdering her stepson following the ex-husband's murder. The sentencing trial for Ko Yoo-jeong will be held at 2 p.m. on the 20th.