A man in his 70s, identified as A, who killed a woman and abandoned the body near the helicopter landing pad of the transmission tower on Mireuksan Mountain in Nangsang-myeon, Iksan-si, Jeonbuk, was arrested by the police at 12:42 a.m. on the 7th of last month. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] A man in his 70s who killed a middle school classmate in an apartment in Iksan, Jeonbuk, and disposed of the body on Mireuksan Mountain was found to have committed a sexual crime before the murder.
On the 27th, the 1st Criminal Division of Gunsan Branch, Jeonju District Court (Chief Judge Kim Hyundeok) held the first trial for Mr. A (72), who was arrested and indicted on charges of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (rape and murder).
The prosecution stated, "The defendant violently beat the victim's head, arms, and legs into a state of shock after the victim resisted when forcibly kissed," and "The defendant, whose some body parts were severed due to the victim's resistance, continued the assault and eventually killed the victim."
They added, "The defendant left the body unattended, then moved it to the bathroom, and later used a passenger car to transport it to Mireuksan Mountain," and "Upon arrival at the mountain, the defendant covered the body with fallen leaves and abandoned it."
In response, Mr. A's lawyer said, "The defendant admits to the assault but testifies that there is no causal relationship between the assault and the death," and "The defendant presumes the cause of the victim's death to be an underlying illness or overexertion due to choking."
He also explained, "The defendant thought about storing the body in a secluded place and contacting the bereaved family," and "At that time, he did not realize that this act constituted abandonment of a corpse."
Furthermore, he claimed diminished responsibility, stating, "The defendant suffers from severe affective disorder and showed severe symptoms on the day of the incident," and requested a psychiatric evaluation.
Earlier, Mr. A was indicted on charges of sexually assaulting Ms. B (73, female) at his apartment in Iksan, Jeonbuk, on June 4-5 last month, killing her through indiscriminate assault, and disposing of the body on Mireuksan Mountain. Mr. A denied the charges during the investigation, saying, "I woke up and found the victim dead."
The police, who launched an investigation following a report from a hiker who discovered the body, secured CCTV footage from the apartment showing Mr. A moving the body and promptly arrested him.
Meanwhile, the court decided to continue the trial for witness examination and other proceedings. The next trial will be held on June 10.
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