Goyujeong Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in First Trial... Stepson Murder 'Not Guilty' (3rd Report)

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seongpil Cho] Ko Yoo-jeong, who was arrested and indicted on charges of murdering her ex-husband and stepson, was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial. This is about nine months since the case became public when she was urgently arrested on June 1 last year.

The Criminal Division 2 of Jeju District Court (Chief Judge Bong-ki Jeong) held the sentencing hearing for this case on the afternoon of the 20th and delivered this sentence to the defendant Ko Yoo-jeong. The court stated the reason for sentencing, saying, "The defendant lured the victim, her ex-husband, under the pretext of visitation rights, administered zolpidem to kill him, and then systematically dismembered and concealed the body. The defendant shows no remorse or guilt toward the victim, making a heavy sentence inevitable."

According to the prosecution, Ko Yoo-jeong is charged with stabbing her ex-husband Kang Mo with a weapon and killing him at a pension in Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, on the afternoon of May 25 last year, then mutilating and disposing of the body. In September last year, during the first trial, an additional charge of murdering her stepson was added. Ko Yoo-jeong claimed that the killing of her ex-husband was an impulsive act and pleaded not guilty to the stepson's murder during the trial.

The court acknowledged the charges of murder and corpse mutilation and concealment of the ex-husband as presented by the prosecution but acquitted her of the stepson's murder charge. The court said, "Due to a lack of direct evidence, it is difficult to recognize the charges."

Earlier, the prosecution had requested the death penalty for Ko Yoo-jeong at the final hearing. This was based on the Supreme Court sentencing guidelines, which allow for imprisonment of 20 years or more, life imprisonment, or the death penalty for defendants who commit murder against two or more unspecified persons. The prosecution also requested a consolidation of charges by additionally indicting Ko Yoo-jeong for the stepson's murder last year for the same reason.

However, as the court acquitted her of the stepson's murder charge due to insufficient evidence, Ko Yoo-jeong was sentenced to life imprisonment, which is a lighter sentence than the prosecution's request. In fact, it is rare for the death penalty to be handed down in murder cases involving only one victim. The most recent death sentence was given to Ahn In-deuk, the defendant in the arson-murder case at an apartment in Jinju, Gyeongnam, who was found guilty of killing five people. Lee Young-hak, known as the 'Fang Dad,' was sentenced to death in the first trial for murdering his daughter's friend but had his sentence changed to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court.