Mother who strangled sleeping daughter to death then surrendered... sentenced to 12 years in prison

Court. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Min Jun-young] A man in his 40s who killed his sleeping daughter due to financial hardship was sentenced to a heavy prison term.

The Changwon District Court Criminal Division 2 (Chief Judge Lee Jeong-hyun) announced on the 13th that it sentenced A (44), the biological mother who was tried on charges of murdering her elementary school-aged daughter, to 12 years in prison.

The court stated, "The responsibility for committing a crime that abandoned parental duties is heavy. Killing a daughter who could not resist in any way is unacceptable for any reason."

It added, "Considering that financial support for living expenses had been received, it cannot be seen that the crime was committed due to severe financial hardship."

Earlier, A was prosecuted on charges of strangling and stabbing her daughter B (8), who was sleeping, at an apartment in Gimhae, Gyeongnam, at 11:30 p.m. on April 6.

After the crime, A attempted an extreme act but failed, and then experienced a change of heart and called the police two days later to confess, saying, "I killed my daughter."

Investigations confirmed that A, who had no particular job, was living with her daughter alone and committed the crime amid financial difficulties.