A couple in their 40s who abused their 10-year-old nephew to death have been arrested. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Nana] A couple in their 40s who tortured and abused their 10-year-old niece to death has been arrested.
The Suwon District Court held a pre-trial detention hearing on the 10th for A (in his 40s) and B (female, in her 40s), who were arrested on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, and issued arrest warrants.
The court stated the reason for issuing the warrants, saying, "The case is very serious as they abused and caused the death of their niece, C (10). There is a concern that they may destroy evidence or flee."
Earlier, the couple is suspected of brutally beating their niece C with plastic rods and other objects and submerging her head in a bathtub around 12:35 PM on the 8th, causing her death. It was found that they had been continuously abusing C since the 6th because she wet herself and did not obey well.
During the abuse, when C lost consciousness and stopped breathing, they called 119, claiming "the niece fell into the bathtub." Paramedics who responded to the call performed CPR on C, who was covered in bruises and had been water-tortured, and transported her to the hospital. However, C was pronounced dead at 1:27 PM on the 8th.
The National Forensic Service, which performed an autopsy on C's body, gave a preliminary verbal opinion that the cause of death was 'secondary shock.'
Since November last year, B's younger sibling and C's biological mother reportedly entrusted C to the couple due to moving issues and work commitments.
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