Biological Father Sentenced to Heavy Punishment in Second Trial for Causing Newborn's Death with Sleep-Inducing Formula

Biological Father Who Caused Death of 3-Month-Old Daughter Sentenced to 8 Years in First Trial... Appeal Court Upholds Original Verdict

A man in his 40s who fed formula mixed with a sleep aid containing zolpidem to his 3-month-old infant and left the child unattended, resulting in the infant's death, was sentenced to a heavy prison term again in the appellate court.

On the 3rd, the Daejeon High Court (Criminal Division 1, Presiding Judge Park Jin-hwan) dismissed the appeal of Mr. A (41), who was charged with child abuse resulting in death, and upheld the original sentence of 8 years in prison.

Earlier, on January 13 at around 10:23 p.m., Mr. A, who was taking care of his daughter born to his common-law wife Ms. B alone, fed her formula mixed with a sleep aid containing zolpidem. Afterwards, the daughter showed symptoms such as hypothermia and her health rapidly deteriorated. However, Mr. A dropped the daughter on the floor, causing a head injury, and despite the daughter losing consciousness due to vomiting, he did not call 119. Ultimately, the daughter died just after passing 100 days since birth.

During the trial, Mr. A claimed, "I dissolved the sleep aid in bottled water intending to take it myself," and "I mistakenly used this water to prepare the formula." He also denied neglecting the newborn, stating that he performed artificial respiration and cardiopulmonary resuscitation on the child. Regarding why he did not report the incident, he explained, "I was afraid of being arrested because I was wanted by the police."

However, the court's judgment differed from Mr. A's claims. The first trial court sentenced him to 8 years in prison, stating that the crime was serious because he did not report the incident despite knowing the baby was in danger. Both Mr. A and the prosecution appealed the verdict.

In response, the appellate court stated, "It is difficult for an ordinary person to accept the idea of dissolving a sleep aid and drinking it," and "Since the bottle with the dissolved sleep aid showed white sediment, the claim that it was mistakenly added to the formula cannot be accepted." The appellate court also emphasized, "Regardless of whether the sleep aid was intentionally administered, the important point is that the child showed abnormal symptoms, yet he neither reported it nor took the child to a hospital, leaving the child unattended for a long time, which intentionally led to death." The court maintained the original ruling, saying, "This has little impact on the establishment of child abuse resulting in death." The prosecution's claim that the sentence was too light and unfair was also dismissed.