During the trial, the Cho family claimed 'diminished mental capacity'... Prosecution: "No possibility of victim recovery or remorse"
The prosecution has sought the death penalty for Chosun (34), who caused four casualties by wielding a weapon in broad daylight in Sillim-dong, Seoul.
The suspect Cho Seon, involved in the 'Shillim-dong stabbing incident' that resulted in four casualties, is being transferred from Seoul Gwanak Police Station to the prosecution on the morning of July 28 last year. [Image source=Yonhap News]
At the sentencing hearing for Chosun held on the 10th before the Criminal Division 32-2 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Jo Seung-woo, Judges Bang Yoon-seop and Kim Hyun-soon), the prosecution requested the court to impose the maximum legal penalty, the death sentence.
Chosun is accused of stabbing a man in his 20s more than ten times with a weapon near the entrance of a shopping alley close to Sillim Station on Subway Line 2 on July 21 of last year, killing him, and then repeatedly wielding the weapon against three men in their 30s further inside the alley. Investigations revealed that none of the victims had any prior acquaintance with Chosun.
The prosecution stated, "The defendant wielded a pre-prepared weapon against multiple victims with whom he had no prior acquaintance in the city center, brutally killing a promising 22-year-old young man, and inflicted significant physical and psychological pain on multiple victims. Despite this, he denies the crime, claiming there was no intent to kill." They added, "Considering that he has shown no remorse, has not taken steps to restore the victims, and that the bereaved families and victims are pleading for the maximum penalty, we ask the court to take these factors into account."
They continued, "This crime instilled fear that anyone could be killed in broad daylight in the middle of the city, and, along with copycat crimes such as the mountain trail sexual assault and murder and the Sillim Station murder threat posts, it has caused public anxiety. A severe punishment is necessary to sound a warning." They pointed out, "The brutal method of planning and executing the murder simply out of anger and inferiority toward society and himself, along with a history of multiple violent crimes, are aggravating factors that warrant heavy punishment."
During the trial, Chosun’s defense claimed diminished mental capacity. The defense attorney stated, "He has a history of antisocial personality traits and had been experiencing persecutory delusions for two to three days before the incident." They added, "An evaluation was conducted to determine whether there was a causal relationship with the incident, and it was confirmed that such a relationship exists."
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