Photo of the exterior of Daejeon High Court. Source: Screenshot from the official website of Daejeon High Court
[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The suspect in the 'Cambodia late-term pregnant wife death accident' has been sentenced to imprisonment. The suspect is the husband of the victim, and at the time of the death accident, insurance worth approximately 9.5 billion KRW was subscribed in the victim's name.
The Criminal Division 6 of the Daejeon High Court (Presiding Judge Heo Yong-seok) announced on the 10th that A (50) was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment for violating the Special Act on the Treatment of Traffic Accidents.
Previously, in August 2014, A caused an accident near the Cheonan Interchange on the Gyeongbu Expressway while driving a van, colliding with a parked truck on the shoulder. His wife (24 years old at the time of death), who was riding with him, died. At the time of the accident, A's wife was seven months pregnant.
Regarding this accident, A was acquitted in the first trial but sentenced to life imprisonment in the second trial. Afterwards, the Supreme Court overturned and remanded the case, stating that the motive for murder applied in the second trial was unclear, and A has since undergone retrial at the Daejeon High Court for three years (remand trial).
The conflicting judgments by the courts mainly hinged on whether A's caused accident was intentional (murder). The approximately 20 insurance policies subscribed in the name of the deceased victim became a key factor in determining A's intent.
In the actual trial, the prosecution argued that A intentionally caused the accident to receive insurance money, while the defense emphasized that due to A's financial debts and marital relationship, the accident was not intentional.
In this regard, the Daejeon High Court (remand trial) ultimately concluded that A did not intentionally cause the accident but that it occurred due to drowsy driving.
The court stated, "Of the 9.5 billion KRW insurance payout due to the victim's death, 5.4 billion KRW will not be paid out at once, and the insurance money will be shared not only by the defendant but also by other legal heirs," adding, "Considering that it is difficult to see that the defendant was in financial hardship, and that multiple insurance policies were subscribed not only in the victim's name but also in the child's name, the motive for murder is not clear."
Furthermore, the court said, "However, the (alternative) charge that the defendant was driving while drowsy is recognized as guilty," and explained the sentencing reason: "Since the late-term pregnant wife appeared to be sleeping with her seatbelt off and the seat reclined, the defendant should have driven with more caution but did not."
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