30s Man Who Killed Sisters and Took Valuables in Dangjin Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Appeal Trial

Court: "Effect Equivalent to the De Facto Abolished Death Penalty"

Daejeon Court Complex / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] A man in his 30s who was sentenced to life imprisonment for killing his lover and her older sister in Dangjin, Chungnam, was sentenced to the same term in the appellate court. Previously, the victims' father had called for severe punishment against the suspect.

The Criminal Division 3 of Daejeon High Court (Chief Judge Jeong Jae-oh) on the 25th sentenced Kim Mo (34), who was indicted on charges of murder and murder robbery, to life imprisonment in the appeal trial, the same as the first trial.

Kim, who was initially sentenced to the same term in the first trial, appealed claiming "the sentence is too heavy." On the other hand, the prosecution, which had sought the death penalty for Kim, appealed arguing "the sentence is too light." The court dismissed both the prosecution's and Kim's appeals.

The court pointed out, "The defendant killed his younger sibling (lover) and calmly planned and committed additional crimes without fleeing or feeling severe pain," adding, "The grief of the bereaved family who lost two daughters within four hours is hard to comprehend without experiencing it, yet the defendant made no effort to seek forgiveness."

It further explained the sentencing reason, saying, "Since the death penalty has been effectively abolished in our country since 1997 and there is no possibility of execution, life imprisonment has the same effect as the death penalty."

Earlier, Kim was accused of killing his girlfriend B by strangling her after an argument while drinking at an apartment in Dangjin, Chungnam, in June 2020, after she fell asleep.

He is also accused of breaking into B's older sister's house in the same apartment complex, hiding there, and killing the sister who returned home from work early the next morning.

A father who lost two daughters posted on the Blue House National Petition Board, urging strong punishment for the suspect Kim Mo. / Photo by Blue House National Petition Board screenshot

Moreover, Kim is suspected of stealing the car owned by B's older sister, driving to Ulsan, causing a traffic accident, and fleeing the scene. He also reportedly purchased game items worth 1.06 million won using B's mobile phone. In a separate case, Kim was sentenced to two years in prison, but in the appellate trial, this charge was combined with the murder and robbery charges.

Kim's atrocities became public through the victims' bereaved families, sparking public outrage.

Previously, the victims' father posted a petition titled "My daughter's boyfriend killed my daughter and her older sister" on the Blue House National Petition Board on December 23, 2020.

He pleaded, "Please agree to this petition so that the perpetrator, who claims diminished mental capacity, can receive appropriate punishment," and lamented, "This criminal was already indicted without detention for theft, robbery three times, and violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (theft), and the first trial is currently underway."

He continued, "If you have a daughter, a sister, or even if you don't, please think of this as your own matter and do not turn a blind eye," urging strict punishment for Kim.

He also appealed to President Moon Jae-in, saying, "Please ensure that no further victims occur and that the perpetrator receives severe punishment." This petition received over 250,000 signatures at the time, meeting the official response criteria of the Blue House.