20-Year-Old Biological Father Who Beat 29-Day-Old Daughter to Death Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison on Appeal

Sentence Increased on Appeal... Prison Term from 7 to 10 Years
Court: "Shifted Abuse Responsibility Despite Causing Daughter's Death"

A man in his 20s was sentenced to a heavy penalty for abusing his daughter, who was less than a month old, causing her death. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. Photo by Pixabay [Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyun-joo] A man in his 20s who caused the death of his 29-day-old daughter by hitting her forehead with a ring-adorned hand and violently shaking her was sentenced to a heavier punishment in the appellate court than in the first trial.

On the 18th, the Criminal Division 3 of Suwon High Court (Presiding Judge Kim Sung-soo) overturned the original verdict in the appeal case against Mr. A (22) on charges including child abuse resulting in death, sentencing him to 10 years in prison and 40 hours of participation in a child abuse treatment program.

Mr. A was indicted for hitting the forehead of his 29-day-old daughter, Ms. B, twice with his left thumb wearing a metal ring at their home in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province on December 31, 2020, because he was angry that she was crying instead of sleeping. She died the next day from head injuries including acute subdural hemorrhage and brain edema.

During the investigation, it was also found that Mr. A physically abused Ms. B four times, including violently shaking the mattress where she was lying just days before her death. Four days before her death, despite Ms. B having passed a large amount of stool and being in a weakened state, gasping for breath, no necessary treatment or measures were taken.

Mr. A was sentenced to 7 years in prison in the first trial, but both he and the prosecution appealed, claiming the sentence was inappropriate. The prosecution demanded 20 years in prison in the second trial, as in the first.

At the sentencing hearing, the court stated, "The autopsy results of the victim child confirmed multiple physical abuses over a short period," and "The defendant caused the death of the victim child by inflicting strong physical abuse at least twice, not just once." The court added, "Nevertheless, he shifted responsibility for his abuse to visitors who temporarily came to the house," and explained the sentencing rationale, saying, "This is a serious case where a newborn died at just 29 days old, and the original sentence was too light and therefore inappropriate."