Starving and forcing feces into mouth... '8-year-old Byeol's abuse and murder' couple say "30 years imprisonment is excessive" in first appeal trial

Over 3 Years of Starvation and Abuse
Forced to Hold Mouth Due to Incontinence
30 Years Imprisonment in First Trial... "No Intent to Murder" Claimed

By the age of 8, Byeol-i passed away while suffering abuse from her biological mother in her 20s and stepfather / Photo by Korea Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse (KAPCA)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] A couple in their 20s, who were sentenced to 30 years in prison in the first trial for starving and abusing their 8-year-old daughter Byeori to death, denied some charges in the first appeal trial, claiming "there was no intent to kill."

On the 15th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 6-2 (Presiding Judge Jung Chongryeong) held the first appeal trial for the biological mother A (28, female) and the stepfather B (27, male), who were indicted on charges including murder and violation of the Child Welfare Act.

On that day, the couple stood at the defendant's seat holding their approximately 5-month-old daughter born after being detained and indicted. The child was also brought in arms during the first trial. A comforted the crying child with a "woongae" sound, while B, the stepfather, looked on quietly. A’s side appealed to the court, saying, "She gave birth and is taking care of the child while in prison." The couple also argued that there was no intent to kill Byeori. B’s side requested to call the autopsy specialist as a witness, but the court rejected it, suggesting a fact-finding inquiry would be more appropriate.

The couple, who registered their marriage in 2017, were tried for continuously abusing and starving Byeori at their home in Incheon from January of the following year until March of this year, resulting in her death.

It was investigated that the couple abused Byeori 35 times, including making her stand with both hands raised for an hour because she secretly ate jokbal (pig’s trotters) from the refrigerator and discarded the bones in her room’s blanket, or hitting her for urinating and defecating accidents. In fact, B forced Byeori to suck urine through a straw and put panties soiled with feces into her mouth at the end of last year, and A neglected this.

Stepfather B (left) and biological mother A, accused of repeatedly abusing their 8-year-old daughter to death [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the day of the incident, A gave Byeori, who was bleeding from wounds, a cold water shower, and B was found to have played mobile games in the living room even after seeing Byeori collapsed in the bathroom.

The prosecution judged that the couple did not take her to the hospital for more than six hours to hide the abuse. When the 119 emergency squad arrived after the report, Byeori was already dead and had bruises all over her body. According to the autopsy report, Byeori was 110 cm tall and weighed 13 kg, severely underweight compared to peers. No food was found in her stomach or intestines.

The first trial sentenced each of them to 30 years in prison. A decisive factor was the testimony of Byeori’s biological older brother, who is one year older and lived with them, witnessing her death directly. After the crime, A instructed her son to say that she had only punished Byeori about five times, but his statement differed from A’s during the police investigation.

The next appeal trial is scheduled for the 27th of next month.