Jung-in's Adoptive Mother Denies Murder Charges: "I Never Stepped on or Threw the Child"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The adoptive mother accused of abusing and causing the death of 16-month-old adoptee Jeong-in admitted to abuse and assault but claimed, "I did not step on the child with my foot."

At the trial held on the 14th at the Seoul Southern District Court Criminal Division 13 (Presiding Judge Lee Sang-joo), the adoptive mother, Ms. Jang, stated, "I did assault and abuse the child for reasons such as the child not eating well," adding, "This may have caused the child to develop trauma related to chewing."

Ms. Jang tearfully said, "When I was irritated or in a bad mood, I treated the child roughly. I am sorry. I was wrong."

Regarding the prosecution's claim that "Ms. Jang caused the child's death by delivering strong blows, including stepping on the child's abdomen," Ms. Jang denied, "I did not step on or throw the child." However, she admitted, "I did hit the abdomen strongly several times with my hand."

Ms. Jang is on trial after being arrested and indicted on charges including murder for repeatedly assaulting and abusing her adopted daughter Jeong-in from June to October last year and delivering a strong blow to Jeong-in's back on October 13, which led to her death.

Explaining the reason for the assaults, Ms. Jang said, "I thought the child was resisting because she did not eat the food I worked hard to prepare," adding, "I was under a lot of accumulated stress and was also worried that a report of abuse might be made."

When asked why she did not take Jeong-in to the hospital immediately after the assault, Ms. Jang said, "The child appeared sleepy, so I thought it was nothing serious and laid her down on the bed." When the prosecutor asked, "If a child who just woke up is sleepy after being assaulted, shouldn't that be seen as losing consciousness rather than just being sleepy?" Ms. Jang choked up and replied, "I did not think that way at the time."

On the other hand, the defense argued, "The defendant had planned to adopt even before giving birth to her first child and had no intention of abusing from the beginning," adding, "The initial scolding of the child was a form of discipline to encourage her to eat well." They also stated, "The defendant never informed or showed her husband the abuse, and he only knew about minor corporal punishment."