Mother pleading for "Severe Punishment for Perpetrator Who Left Daughter in Vegetative State"... Sentenced to 6 Years in First Trial

Court: "Defendant Has Not Even Made Efforts to Restore Damage"

A man in his 20s who indiscriminately assaulted a middle school classmate, leaving him in a 'vegetative state,' has been sentenced to prison.

According to Yonhap News on the 2nd, "The 1st Criminal Division of Gunsan Branch Court of Jeonju District Court (Chief Judge Jeong Seong-min) sentenced A (20), who was indicted on charges of serious injury, to six years in prison and ordered his immediate detention."

A female victim who was indiscriminately assaulted by a male perpetrator while traveling to Busan with friends.
[Image source=Online community 'BobaeDream']

According to the report, the court stated, "As a result of the defendant's crime, the victim, who was only 19 years old at the time, became a vegetative state," and explained, "The victim's survival entirely depends on a ventilator and assistance from others." The court continued, "One year and three months have passed since the incident, and if the defendant had sincerely apologized to the victim and his parents, he could have supported the victim's medical expenses through monthly labor," adding, "However, the defendant has not even attempted to make efforts to restore the damage."

The court also explained the sentencing by saying, "The defendant attempted to settle with the victim's mother for 30 million won just before the sentencing, but after being rejected, he deposited the amount in a criminal escrow," and "Considering that the victim's mother refused to accept the escrow and is petitioning for severe punishment, the circumstances after the crime are also unfavorable."

A was indicted on charges of pushing and assaulting B (20), a middle school classmate, at a lodging facility in Busan on February 6 last year. B is currently in a vegetative state due to A's assault. After the sentencing, B's mother reportedly left the courtroom and was unable to speak for a while, sobbing.

The case widely spread after B's mother posted a message titled "Please clear my daughter's injustice. Please help" on the online community 'Bobae Dream' on the 5th of last month. B's mother said, "My beautiful and kind daughter, who went on a trip to Busan with a friend, is now in a quadriplegic vegetative state," and added, "A healthy man in his 20s struck the head of a fragile 44kg woman."

B's mother added, "This criminal, who destroyed a happy family, must be severely punished so that no second victim will arise," and "I earnestly hope this post spreads widely so that my daughter's injustice can be somewhat resolved."