High School Student Assaulted Women in Elevator and Restroom
Prosecutors Seek Up to 15 Years Imprisonment in Second Trial
In the appeal trial of a high school student accused of assaulting and committing sexual crimes against teenage girls he had never met before in apartment elevators and commercial building restrooms, the prosecution once again requested the maximum sentence under the Juvenile Act.
On the 20th, Yonhap News reported that the prosecution, during the appeal trial of high school student A held at the Suwon High Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judges Moon Ju-hyung, Kim Min-sang, Kang Young-jae), requested the court to sentence him to the maximum statutory penalty under the Juvenile Act, which is 15 years of imprisonment for the long term and 7 years for the short term, for charges including attempted rape, rape with injury, and violations of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, just as in the first trial.
The original court ruling stated, "The defendant's violent behavior has increased over time, and the methods have become more audacious. The acts themselves involve various risks, indicating a poor nature of the crime," and sentenced him to 8 years of imprisonment for the long term and 6 years for the short term. In the first trial, the defendant was acquitted of two out of three sexual crime charges on the grounds that "it is difficult to conclude intent."
On the day, A's defense attorney made a final argument, saying, "The defendant is well aware of his wrongdoing and has no intention to evade responsibility," and requested the dismissal of the prosecution's appeal, taking into account that he was suffering from a mental illness at the time of the incident. A stated, "My wrongful actions caused many victims," and "I feel sorry for those harmed because of me and will serve my sentence."
A was indicted on charges of assaulting and committing sexual crimes against teenage girl B on the night of October 6 last year at an apartment in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province. Forty minutes before the crime, he assaulted girl C at another apartment and attempted rape but failed. On the night of the previous day, October 5, he entered the women's restroom of a commercial building in Hwaseong City for filming purposes, strangled and assaulted girl D.
The sentencing for A's appeal trial is scheduled for the 11th of next month.
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