'Valley Murder' Defendants Sentenced to Life Imprisonment... Lee Eunhae: "I Didn't Kill, Every Day Is Hell" (Comprehensive)

Prosecution: "Planned a perfect crime disguised as an accident, no remorse"
Defense: "Public trial without strong evidence to prove the charges"

Defendants Lee Eun-hae and Jo Hyun-soo in the 'Valley Murder' case [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Life imprisonment was requested for defendants Lee Eunhae (31) and Jo Hyunsoo (30) in the 'Valley Murder' case.

On the 30th, the prosecution requested life imprisonment for Lee and Jo, who were indicted on charges including murder and attempted murder, at the sentencing hearing held before the 15th Criminal Division of the Incheon District Court (Chief Judge Lee Gyuhun).

The prosecution also asked the court to order the attachment of electronic location tracking devices (electronic anklets) for 20 years, probation for 5 years, restrictions on going out during certain hours, and a ban on approaching the victim's bereaved family.

The prosecution stated, "The defendants planned a perfect crime by disguising it as an accidental death and killed the victim driven by a get-rich-quick mentality aiming for a large life insurance payout," adding, "Lee exploited the victim by labeling her as her husband and committed a brutal crime, and Jo knowingly took advantage of their sham marriage relationship."

They continued, "The defendants evaded the detention center's surveillance by exchanging notes to respond to the prosecution's questioning and even mocked the investigating prosecutors, showing audacious behavior."

The prosecution explained the reason for the sentencing request, saying, "Since they show no intention to repent for their crimes, a heavy punishment corresponding to the crime is necessary to uphold judicial justice and to somewhat ease the pain of the bereaved family."

In their final defense, the joint lawyers for Lee and Jo argued, "After realizing the accident, Lee threw life jackets into the water, and Jo also wore goggles and tried to find Lee's husband," adding, "We want to ask what more actions could have been taken."

They further stated, "This trial was conducted based on public opinion from the beginning without strong evidence to prove the charges. It is a wrongful trial," and "We hope the court faithfully adheres to the principle that factual findings must be based on evidence and delivers a not guilty verdict."

On this day, Lee and Jo denied all charges and read lengthy final statements they had prepared in advance at the detention center.

Lee tearfully said, "I have been criticized until now because of my disgraceful past behavior. Every day has been hell, and I am struggling and blaming myself."

She added, "I never killed my oppa (husband), who thought of my child as his own and sincerely cared for me until the end," and "I did not plan to kill oppa to claim insurance money."

Jo also said, "I fled due to the pressure of coercive investigation during the prosecution's inquiry into this case," and "I regret the accident and understand that the bereaved family resents me, but I never planned to kill hyung (Lee's husband)."

The sentencing hearing for them is scheduled for 2 p.m. on October 27.

Lee was arrested and indicted on charges including the murder of her husband A (39 years old at the time of death) on June 30, 2019, at 8:24 p.m. in Yongsogye Valley, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, together with her lover Jo.

The prosecution judged that they killed A, who could not swim, by forcing him to jump from a 4-meter-high rock into a valley pool 3 meters deep without rescue equipment.

They are also accused of attempting to kill A earlier by feeding him food mixed with pufferfish blood in February and May 2019 or by drowning him in a fishing pond.

The prosecution concluded that they planned the crime aiming for the 800 million won life insurance policy taken out in A's name.

The prosecution applied the charge of "commission murder," which refers to direct killing, rather than "omission murder," which applies when someone intentionally does not rescue despite being able to, to Lee and Jo.

Lee and Jo disappeared before the prosecution's second investigation on December 14 last year and were arrested by the police in an officetel near Samsong Station in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi Province, in April this year, four months later.