Goyu-jeong Appeals Life Sentence Verdict in First Trial

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] Ko Yoo-jeong (37), who was detained and indicted on charges of murdering her ex-husband and stepson, has appealed the first trial verdict.

According to Jeju District Court on the 28th, Ko's side submitted an appeal to Jeju District Court the day before. The reason for the appeal has not yet been disclosed.

The prosecution also appealed to Jeju District Court on the 24th, dissatisfied with the first trial verdict, citing inappropriate sentencing for the ex-husband murder case and factual errors and legal misinterpretations for the stepson murder case. Previously, the first trial court sentenced Ko Yoo-jeong, who was detained and indicted on charges of murder, corpse mutilation, and concealment, to life imprisonment.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At that time, the court stated as the reason for sentencing, "The defendant lured the victim, her ex-husband, under the pretext of visitation rights, administered zolpidem to kill him, and then mutilated and concealed the body in a planned manner," adding, "The defendant shows no remorse or guilt toward the victim, making a heavy sentence inevitable."

The court acknowledged the charges of murder and corpse mutilation and concealment against the ex-husband as presented by the prosecution but acquitted her of the charge of murdering her 5-year-old stepson. In the case of Ko Yoo-jeong's stepson, the cause of death was presumed to be non-traumatic asphyxia, but the possibility that he died from being pressed by the current husband's leg could not be ruled out.

Ko Yoo-jeong was tried on charges of stabbing and killing her ex-husband Kang Mo (37) with a weapon at a pension in Jocheon-eup, Jeju City, on May 25 last year, mutilating the body, and disposing of it (murder, corpse mutilation, concealment). She was also additionally indicted on charges of murdering her stepson. The prosecution demanded the death penalty for Ko at the sentencing hearing on the 20th of last month.