Video Just Before Diving Submitted by Lee Eunhae... Expert Analysis on "Possible Editing"

Eunhae Lee Submits Early 21-Second Video from Investigation
"Image Quality Compressed About 3 to 5 Times, Possible Editing"

A 21-second video filmed at the time of the incident submitted to the police by Lee Eun-hae, the suspect in the 'Valley Murder' case. / Screenshot from Channel A broadcast

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Ju-hee] An expert analysis suggested that the video submitted by suspect Lee Eun-hae to the police, claiming innocence in the "valley murder" case, may have been edited.

On the 24th, Channel A reported part of a video filmed by Lee at a valley in Gapyeong, Gyeonggi Province, on June 30, 2019, when the incident occurred. The 21-second video was submitted by Lee to the Gapyeong Police Station, which handled the initial investigation.

The video features another suspect and Lee’s lover, Jo Hyun-soo, an accomplice identified as A, and the victim B, who is Lee’s husband. The three are on a rock 4 meters above the water surface, with Jo and A looking around to find a spot to dive. B, who is known to be unable to swim, sits on the rock with his legs drawn forward and palms touching the rock, appearing scared.

The video reportedly also contains a voice, presumed to be Lee’s, saying to Jo, "Hyun-soo, where should you dive?" encouraging him to jump toward the tube. Crucially, the video does not include any footage of the actual dive.

The video was recorded at 8:17 p.m., and seven minutes later, at around 8:24 p.m., a 119 emergency call reported B had fallen into the water. Paramedics arrived at the scene, rescued B, and transported him to the hospital, but he ultimately died.

An expert conveyed to the prosecution that the video might have been deliberately edited. Hwang Min-gu, director of the Legal Video Analysis Institute, told Channel A in an interview, "Usually, the original footage is submitted to reveal the truth of the case, but this video’s quality was compressed about 3 to 5 times," adding, "There is a possibility of secondary editing."

Meanwhile, Lee and Jo disappeared ahead of a prosecution investigation in December last year but were arrested on the 16th of this month at an officetel in Deogyang-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province. They face charges of murder, attempted murder, and violation of the Special Act on the Prevention of Insurance Fraud. The prosecution believes they committed the crime aiming for an 800 million won life insurance payout under B’s name.