Prosecution Seeks Death Penalty for Lee Young-bok in Murder of Two Dabang Owners

Lee Young-bok, Final Defense Statement: "Death Sentence Is Justified"

The prosecution has demanded the death penalty for Lee Young-bok (57), who was arrested and brought to trial on charges of consecutively murdering two cafe owners. Lee Young-bok also stated in his final defense that he agrees with the prosecution's demand for the death penalty.

On the 11th, Yonhap News reported, "At the sentencing hearing held under the jurisdiction of the 1st Criminal Division of the Goyang Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court (Chief Judge Kim Hee-soo), the prosecution requested the court to sentence Lee Young-bok, who was arrested and indicted on charges of robbery-murder and rape, to death."

They also requested orders for completion of a sexual violence treatment program, notification of personal information disclosure, a 10-year employment restriction order, a 30-year electronic location tracking device attachment, and imposition of compliance requirements. In case the order for electronic location tracking device attachment is dismissed, they requested a 5-year probation order.

Mugshot of Lee Young-bok, the serial killer of Gyeonggi-do coffee shops [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to Yonhap News, the prosecution explained the reason for the demand, saying, "The defendant indiscriminately assaulted and killed victims with whom he had no connection." They added, "Such crimes have caused ordinary citizens living their daily lives to express fear." They further stated, "The victims' suffering is unimaginable, and the bereaved families who suddenly lost their loved ones are pleading for severe punishment," and urged the court to impose the death penalty as a strict punishment considering the defendant's antisocial tendencies.

In his final defense, Lee Young-bok said, "It is natural to receive the death penalty for this case, and please allow me to live with the weight of the death penalty until the day I die here." He added, "I believe that is the only way to ask for forgiveness from the victims and their families, and I am sincerely sorry."

Lee Young-bok is accused of visiting a cafe operated by victim A (64) in Goyang, pretending to be a customer on December 30 of the same year after being released from prison on November 12 last year, brutally murdering A, and robbing 355,000 won in cash.

After the crime, Lee fled while stealing valuables from restaurants and other places to fund his escape. He is also accused of spending his money on alcohol at a cafe operated by victim B (66) in Yangju, assaulting B on January 5, attempting sexual assault, murdering him, and taking 396,000 won in cash.