Decision on Arrest of Man in His 20s for Fatally Assaulting Ex-Girlfriend in Geoje to Be Made Today

Warrant Review at Changwon District Court Tongyeong Branch on the 20th

The decision on whether to detain a man in his 20s, who is accused of assaulting and causing the death of his ex-girlfriend in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do, will be made on the 20th.

The Tongyeong Branch of the Changwon District Court will hold a pre-trial detention hearing (warrant review) for the suspect, referred to as A, in his 20s, who is charged with causing death by injury, starting at 2:30 p.m. today.

In an unusual move, the victim's family is expected to attend and speak at the warrant review hearing.

A mother of a daughter who died while receiving hospital treatment after being assaulted by her ex-boyfriend is reading a statement urging strict punishment for the perpetrator.
[Photo by Lee Seryoung]

Previously, A was accused of breaking into the studio apartment of his ex-girlfriend, B, also in her 20s, in Gohyeon-dong, Geoje, on the 1st of last month, repeatedly striking her on the head and face and strangling her, resulting in her death.

B suffered severe injuries, including traumatic subdural hemorrhage, with a recovery period of six weeks, and ultimately passed away in the hospital on the 10th of last month while receiving treatment.

After B's death, police urgently arrested A on charges of causing death by injury, but he was released after about eight hours as the prosecution determined the conditions for an emergency arrest were not met.

A and B, who were high school classmates, attended the same university and department, and had an on-and-off relationship for about three years since their high school days.

During this period, the two reported a total of 12 incidents related to dating violence to the police, including mutual assault.

The National Forensic Service initially gave a verbal opinion that B did not die from the assault, but later, through a detailed examination, concluded that it was highly likely B died due to complications from head injuries.

Based on the final autopsy results from the National Forensic Service, the police applied for a pre-trial detention warrant for A, and the prosecution requested the warrant citing concerns about flight risk and destruction of evidence.