'Girlfriend and Mother Stabbing Murder' · 'Seongnam Cohabitant Murder' · 'Gang Violence' Case Defense
Defense in Nephew's Murder Case Claims "Diminished Responsibility" for Sentence Reduction
Anger Over "Mental Illness Sentence Reduction" in 'Gangseo PC Bang Murder Case'
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, is answering questions regarding the collective resignation of key party officials. [Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Youngcheol Ra] Recently, the personal information of Kim Byung-chan, who stalked and murdered his ex-girlfriend, was made public, spreading public anxiety and anger over so-called 'dating violence.'
Meanwhile, Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, apologized for defending his nephew in a past 'dating violence case,' sparking controversy over his defense record and past statements.
The 'dating violence' case involving Lee Jae-myung's nephew closely resembles the 'Kim Tae-hyun case,' in which three women?a girlfriend who had broken up with him and her mother and grandmother?were murdered, and is also similar to the Kim Byung-chan case as a 'murder case.'
On the 24th, Lee said on his Facebook, "One of my relatives committed a serious dating violence crime in the past, and since the family could not afford to hire a lawyer, I, the only lawyer in the family, had no choice but to take on the defense." He added, "I offer my deepest condolences and apologies to the victims and their bereaved families."
In 2006, Lee served as the defense attorney in the first and second trials for his nephew, who went to his ex-girlfriend's house and stabbed her and her mother to death with a weapon, arguing for a reduction of sentence due to diminished mental capacity.
Also, in 2007, during the defense of the 'Seongnam cohabiting girlfriend murder case,' Lee, along with another attorney, reportedly argued that the defendant was in a state of diminished mental capacity.
However, regarding the suspect in the 'Gangseo PC Bang murder case' that occurred in October 2018, Lee stated, "The public is angry about sentence reductions due to mental illness. There is also concern about stigmatizing mentally ill individuals as potential criminals."
Previously, through election campaign materials for the National Assembly, Seongnam mayor, and Gyeonggi governor elections in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2014, and 2018, he introduced himself as a 'human rights lawyer.'
Especially in the 2014 local government election campaign material, he stated, "Human rights lawyer Lee Jae-myung will take responsibility for citizens' safety."
As such, criticism has continued against Lee, who presented himself as a 'human rights lawyer for the socially vulnerable,' after it was revealed that he defended cases including his nephew's murder case, the cohabiting girlfriend murder case, and organized crime violence cases.
Lee Sang-soo, president of the Korea Public Trust Research Institute, said in an interview with this paper on the 25th, "It is difficult to find concrete evidence that Lee Jae-myung actively worked as a human rights lawyer," adding, "Defending heinous criminals who committed dating violence by citing diminished mental capacity, while demanding strict punishment for mentally ill criminals in the Gangseo PC Bang murder case, is a self-contradictory act when viewed in terms of consistency and common sense."
He continued, "A presidential candidate aiming to establish himself as a national leader should have consistency in thought and action, but Lee is showing highly contradictory behavior."
Lim Seung-ho, spokesperson for the People Power Party, also criticized in a verbal statement that day, "Lee defended his nephew, claiming that his nephew was in a state of diminished mental capacity due to impaired impulse control, arguing for sentence reduction. In 2018, he mentioned the 'Kim Seong-su case' on his SNS, saying the public is angry about sentence reductions for mental illness and demanding severe punishment for heinous criminals."
Kim Jin-tae, chairman of the People Power Party's "Lee Jae-myung Corruption National Verification Special Committee," is entering the Seongnam Mental Health Welfare Center in Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi Province on the 24th to conduct an on-site investigation related to allegations of the forced hospitalization of the late Lee Jae-seon (older brother of candidate Lee Jae-myung) in a psychiatric hospital. Photo by the National Assembly Press Photographers Group
Meanwhile, Kim Jin-tae, chairman of the People Power Party's 'Lee Jae-myung Corruption National Verification Special Committee' and head of the Chuncheon Gap district party committee, emphasized on SNS, "If you only listen to Lee Jae-myung, it is easy to think that there was an impulsive act of violence during a date, but this case was a 'serial murder case by organized crime.'"
Chairman Kim cited part of the indictment to convey the brutality of the case.
He explained, "Lee Jae-myung's nephew, after his girlfriend said she wanted to break up, decided to confront her parents about the reason and purchased a 21-centimeter kitchen knife and five rolls of transparent packing tape before going to her house."
He added, "During the conversation, he flew into a rage and wielded the knife. The girlfriend's father jumped from the 5th floor of an apartment, sustaining injuries requiring 12 weeks of treatment, and the girlfriend and her mother were stabbed 19 and 18 times respectively, dying on the spot."
He continued, "Two were convicted of murder, and one of attempted murder, receiving life sentences confirmed in February 2007 (Seoul High Court 2006No2906). Lee Jae-myung's nephew was reportedly a middle school member of the International Mafia faction."
He added, "If it were not for organized crime, it would be difficult to commit such a bold and brutal act. Lee Jae-myung also defended Kim, a member of the International Mafia faction, in 2007 (Seongnam District Court 2007GoHap66). Even so, will Lee claim he has no connection to organized crime?" he directly challenged.
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