Prosecution Appeals Against First Trial Verdict of 'Stalking Murder' Kim Byung-chan... 35 Years Imprisonment in First Trial

Suspect Kim Byung-chan, who was receiving personal protection due to stalking, is being transferred to the prosecution at Seoul Namdaemun Police Station on the 29th. Kim is accused of killing his ex-girlfriend A at an officetel in Jung-gu, Seoul, with a weapon around 11:30 a.m. on the 19th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] The prosecution has appealed the first trial verdict of Kim Byung-chan (36), who was tried on charges of brutally murdering a woman he stalked.

According to the legal community on the 21st, the prosecution submitted an appeal to the Criminal Division 26 of the Seoul Central District Court (Chief Judge Jung Jin-ah), which presided over the first trial of Kim's case, on the same day.

Kim was indicted on charges of stabbing and killing a woman in her 30s multiple times with a weapon in the parking lot of an officetel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on November 19 last year (murder in retaliation under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes, etc.). The victim had reported Kim four times for stalking crimes and was under police protection at the time, and Kim had also been subject to provisional measures such as a restraining order from the court.

The first trial recognized all of Kim's charges as guilty and sentenced him to 35 years in prison. An order to attach an electronic tracking device (electronic anklet) for 15 years was also issued.