Two Acquaintances Sentenced for Aiding Lee Eunhae and Jo Hyunsu's Escape in 'Valley Murder' Case

Not Guilty of Providing Funds for Escape

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

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Acquaintances who helped Lee Eunhae (31) and Jo Hyunsoo (30) evade prosecution while under investigation for the 'Valley Murder' case have been sentenced to prison.

Judge Park Younggi of the Incheon District Court Criminal Division 15 sentenced A (32), who was charged with aiding a criminal, to 2 years in prison, and co-defendant B (31) to 1 year in prison at the sentencing hearing held on the 3rd.

Judge Park stated, "The defendants assisted suspects involved in serious criminal charges, and severe punishment commensurate with their responsibility is inevitable," adding, "A, who has a history of three prior prison sentences, led the crime and denied the charges while shifting all responsibility onto B."

He continued, "B denied the conspiracy with A and showed an attitude of remorse by claiming all responsibility was his own, but this was an attempt to conceal A's crime," explaining the sentencing rationale by noting that B's remorse was not genuine.

However, the court acquitted A and B of charges related to managing illegal sports gambling sites for Lee and Jo from January to April and using 19 million won in profits as funds for evasion, citing 'lack of evidence.'

A and others were indicted in custody for aiding Lee and Jo's evasion while they were under investigation by the prosecution without detention on charges including murder last December. It was investigated that they used two vehicles to help Lee and others move from the first hiding place to the second.

Lee and Jo were additionally indicted on charges of instructing others to aid their evasion by asking A and others to secure evasion funds and hiding places.

Additionally, two others, including Lee's female middle school classmate (31), who traveled with them and knew about the wanted status but did not report it to investigative authorities, are also on trial for aiding evasion.

Meanwhile, Lee was tried for the murder of her husband A (39 at the time of death) in June 2019 at Yongsogyeok Valley in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, and was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial at the end of last month, while her accomplice and lover Jo was sentenced to 30 years in prison.