"Did Not Assault" Denial... Victim with 'Skull Depression and Speech Disorder' Still Uncompensated

Assault Continues Even After 119 Ambulance Dispatch

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] The court sentenced the defendants to prison terms again in the appellate trial for assaulting a colleague to the extent of causing a speech disorder.

The Criminal Division 1 of the Chuncheon Branch of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Park Jae-woo) announced on the 28th that it sentenced A (62) and B (56), who were indicted for serious injury, to 1 year and 6 months and 2 years in prison respectively, the same as the original trial.

In the appellate court's ruling, it explained the reasoning for sentencing, stating, "Considering that the victim responded to the situation in a relatively detailed manner despite having a speech disorder, and that no one other than the defendants could have committed the assault, we found them guilty."

It added, "The victim suffered a depressed skull fracture and various disabilities, making normal life impossible, resulting in significant physical and mental damage," and "Nevertheless, the defendants neither reached a settlement with the victim nor compensated for the damages," dismissing all appeals by the defendants.

A and others were indicted for inflicting injuries requiring more than six months of treatment by repeatedly hitting C (55) during a quarrel while drinking with C at a construction site in Jeongseon-gun, Gangwon Province, after work was suspended due to rain in May last year.

According to the investigation, even after the 119 emergency medical team arrived, the defendants continued the assault, causing C to suffer fractures in the eye and jaw areas, cerebral hemorrhage, skull fracture, brain damage, and generalized convulsions.

C underwent brain surgery and other treatments but developed a speech disorder that prevents normal verbal communication.

However, the defendants denied the assault throughout the trial.