‘Hwaseong Adopted Child Abuse Death Case’ Stepfather Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison

‘33-Month-Old’ Adopted Child Beaten Multiple Times with Shoehorn and Left to Die
Court: "Recognized Intent to Kill Due to Minor Reason of Crying Not Stopping"

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] The adoptive father involved in the "Hwaseong Adopted Child Abuse Death Case," who was accused of beating a 2-year-old adopted child to death, has been sentenced to a heavy prison term.

The Supreme Court's 2nd Division (Presiding Justice Cheon Dae-yeop) on the 11th upheld the original sentence of 22 years imprisonment for Mr. A, who was accused of violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes (child abuse causing serious injury) and other charges. The adoptive mother, Ms. B, who was prosecuted for neglecting the abuse despite being aware of it, received a confirmed sentence of 2 years and 6 months imprisonment.

Mr. A was charged with repeatedly beating the then 33-month-old adopted child, Ms. C, from April to May of last year, using a wooden back scratcher, a shoehorn, and his hands, because she was disobedient and stubborn.

Ms. B was brought to trial on charges of failing to take any action other than telling Mr. A "not to do that," despite knowing that Ms. C was being severely abused by Mr. A.

Both were also charged with leaving Ms. C, who fell into a semi-comatose state due to the assault in May last year, unattended for about seven hours without immediately taking her to the hospital. Ms. C was later transferred to a hospital for treatment but passed away about two months later.

The first trial sentenced Mr. A to 22 years imprisonment, stating, "He repeatedly struck the victim child's face and head strongly for the trivial reason that she would not stop crying, causing a brain hemorrhage and collapse, which can be recognized as intent to kill." Ms. B was sentenced to 6 years imprisonment.

However, the second trial maintained the first trial's judgment for Mr. A but reduced Ms. B's sentence to 2 years and 6 months imprisonment. The second trial court criticized Mr. A, saying, "The defendant repeatedly struck the 33-month-old victim child strongly, and after the child fell from the shock, he raised her up and hit her again. The defendant, who has experience raising four other children besides the victim, should have been fully aware that hitting a child to the point of collapse could result in death."

Regarding Ms. B, the court explained the sentencing reason by considering the anxiety expressed by the four elementary school-aged children currently living apart from their mother.

The Supreme Court also agreed with the second trial's judgment.