Female Middle School Classmate Pushed and Assaulted at Age 19
Victim in Vegetative State, Hospitalized
A man in his 20s who assaulted a middle school classmate, leaving him in a vegetative state, pleaded for leniency during his second trial.
According to Yonhap News on the 17th, during the appeal trial for serious injury charges against Mr. A (20) held at the Jeonju Branch of the Gwangju High Court’s 1st Criminal Division (Chief Judge Yang Jin-su), Mr. A made a final statement appealing for mercy.
On that day, Mr. A reportedly took out a note he had prepared in advance from his pocket and read it aloud. He said, "I am ashamed that I cannot do anything right now," and "I feel sorry and guilty when I think of my injured friend. From now on, I will live reflecting deeply on the crime I committed. I am sorry," bowing his head in remorse.
Past and present photos of the female victim, shared by her mother, Ms. B, on an online community last April. [Image source=Captured from online community]
Mr. A’s legal representative also stated, "The friends, who were middle school classmates, had a heated argument while visiting Busan, which led to the intense assault," and requested leniency considering the presence of accidental circumstances. On the other hand, the prosecution reportedly maintained its position from the original trial, asking the court to sentence Mr. A to eight years in prison.
Mr. A is accused of pushing and assaulting Mr. B (20), a middle school classmate, at a lodging facility in Busan on February 6 last year, causing injury. At the time of the incident, Mr. B was rushed to the hospital but is currently reported to be in a vegetative state.
Previously, the first trial court sentenced Mr. A to six years in prison, stating, "The defendant has not even properly attempted to make efforts to restore the damage." Both the prosecution and Mr. A appealed, citing inappropriate sentencing.
This case also drew public attention when Mr. B’s mother posted directly on an online community on April 5. At that time, she said, "If the perpetrator serves a short prison term and is released, our child may no longer be part of this world," and repeatedly urged netizens to submit petitions, saying, "The perpetrator will live like a person again, but our child will be dead. I don’t even want to think about it, but I am going crazy as I am convinced this will soon become reality."
Meanwhile, Mr. A’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 11.
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