[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The police have applied the charge of child abuse homicide to a woman in her 30s who was arrested for beating her 3-year-old stepson to death.
The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency's Women and Juvenile Investigation Unit announced on the 29th that they have newly applied charges of habitual child abuse and child abuse homicide to Lee (33), who was arrested on the 23rd for violating the Child Abuse Punishment Act (child abuse resulting in death), and sent her to the prosecution with an indictment opinion.
Additionally, the police have forwarded the biological father, Mr. A, to the prosecution without detention on charges of neglect and abuse.
In March, the amended Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, known as the "Jeong-in Act," came into effect, establishing the crime of child abuse homicide with a statutory penalty of death, life imprisonment, or imprisonment for seven years or more. This is a much heavier punishment compared to the previously applied child abuse resulting in death charge, which carried life imprisonment or imprisonment for five years or more.
Lee is suspected of beating her stepson to death on the afternoon of the 20th at her home in Cheonho-dong, Gangdong-gu, Seoul, allegedly because "he did not obey." When the police arrived following a report from the biological father, Mr. A, Lee was reportedly intoxicated.
During the investigation, circumstances emerged indicating that Lee had at least indirect intent to kill and had continuously abused her stepson over a long period, leading the police to reconsider the charges.
The National Forensic Service, which conducted an autopsy on the deceased child, found not only a suspected direct cause of death?a rupture of the rectum (large intestine)?but also signs of brain hemorrhage, bruises, and old blood stains.
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