23 Years Ago 'Daegu Female College Student Sexual Assault and Death' Second Trial Also Acknowledges Inadequate Investigation... "Liability to Compensate the Bereaved Family"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Ju Cheol-in] The bereaved families of the 'Daegu Guma Expressway Female College Student Sexual Assault and Death' case from 23 years ago received a higher compensation amount in the appellate trial against the state.

The Seoul High Court Civil Division 15 (Presiding Judges Lee Suk-yeon, Seo Sam-hee, Yang Si-hoon) ruled on the 22nd that the bereaved family of the deceased Jung (then 18 years old) partially won the lawsuit against the state. The court ordered, “Pay 30 million KRW each to Jung’s parents and 5 million KRW each to the three siblings.”

Previously, the first trial court ordered 20 million KRW each to the parents and 5 million KRW each to the siblings. The compensation amount has increased compared to the approximately 130 million KRW total compensation from the state, including delayed interest, at the time of the first trial verdict.

Ms. A was found dead after being hit by a 25-ton dump truck on the Guma Expressway in the early morning of October 17, 1998, while returning home after a school festival. The case was closed as a simple traffic accident, and the dump truck driver was not prosecuted due to denial of negligence.

The accident site was in the opposite direction of her home, and Ms. A was found without underwear. The bereaved family filed a petition with the prosecution to reinvestigate. Evidence suggesting sexual assault, such as semen detected on Ms. A’s underwear found later, emerged. However, no clear evidence identified the suspect of the sexual assault.

Later, in 2013, it was revealed that the DNA of Mr. K, a Sri Lankan caught for soliciting prostitution from minors, matched the DNA found on Ms. A’s underwear.

The prosecution indicted Mr. K on charges of special robbery and rape, for which the statute of limitations had not expired, but the Supreme Court confirmed his acquittal due to lack of evidence and expiration of the statute of limitations. Mr. K was deported to Sri Lanka in July 2017.

The Ministry of Justice confirmed in August 2017, immediately after Mr. K’s departure, that under Sri Lankan law the statute of limitations for rape charges remained, and requested investigation and prosecution from Sri Lanka. However, the Sri Lankan prosecution charged Mr. K with sexual harassment instead of rape, and the trial is currently ongoing.