Prosecutors Indict Sports Center CEO on Charges of Bizarre Stick Murder

The representative of a children's sports center, accused of killing an employee by damaging their organs with a 70cm rod, is being transferred to the prosecution at Seodaemun Police Station in Seoul on the 7th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] A, the representative of a children's sports center who is accused of stabbing an employee to death with a stick while intoxicated, has been indicted in custody.

The Criminal Division 3 of the Seoul Western District Prosecutors' Office announced on the 24th that A (40), the representative of a sports center located in Seodaemun-gu, who is charged with murder, has been indicted in custody.

According to the integrated psychological analysis by the Supreme Prosecutors' Office, A was found to have no unusual sexual tendencies but showed violent tendencies. The prosecution concluded from the investigation that A, who has violent tendencies when drinking, committed the murder due to a trivial quarrel involving the victim's drunken behavior.

After reviewing CCTV footage, 112 emergency call recordings, and mobile phone forensics, the specific actions of A by time and the victim's movements after the crime were analyzed to estimate the time of death. It was found that the victim likely died from a ruptured heart immediately after the crime.

At around 2 a.m. on the 31st of last month, A reported at the sports center that "a man is hitting my sister." However, after the police arrived, A changed his statement, saying, "I never made such a report," and "a man broke in and fought but then ran away."

The police found the victim, employee B in his 20s, lying on the scene and checked his pulse by placing a hand on his chest but judged that there was no life-threatening condition. It was also reported that no bloodstains or other signs of a crime were found. A explained, "He is just sleeping drunk." Regarding the CCTV, he said, "I don't want to show it. I will go to the police station myself to file a complaint."

After hearing these statements, the police withdrew from the scene. About seven hours later, at 9:05 a.m., A reported, "The employee is unconscious after waking up," and the police urgently arrested A.

The police applied for an arrest warrant on charges of murder against A. Initially, A was charged with involuntary manslaughter due to assault, but after the National Forensic Service issued a preliminary opinion stating that "B's anal area was stabbed with a stick causing organ damage leading to death," the charge was changed to murder, considering intent.