Death penalty sought for Park Hak-seon in 'Officetel mother-daughter murder' case: "Brazen claim of accidental crime"

The prosecution has requested the court to sentence Park Hak-seon (65), who stabbed and killed a mother and daughter with a weapon in an officetel in Gangnam, Seoul, to death.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 30th, the prosecution demanded the death penalty at the sentencing trial of Park Hak-seon held at the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 23 (Chief Judge Oh Se-yong). The prosecution stated, "This case involves the defendant's obsession with a woman he was dating, and the brutal murder of not only the woman but also her daughter," adding, "It constitutes an extreme disregard for human life." The prosecution further pointed out, "The defendant claims the crime was impulsive from the investigation stage to the courtroom, but this is a shameless claim to receive a lighter sentence." They continued, "It is necessary to severely punish the defendant to sound an alarm against the recently worsening crimes between lovers," and requested, "Please sentence the defendant to death."

The victim's lawyer also said, "Despite the objective evidence revealing the facts of the crime, the defendant's claim that it was an impulsive act is like killing the victims and their families twice," and added, "Considering the heinous nature of the defendant's crime, which is absolutely unacceptable, we request the heaviest punishment prescribed by law."

Park Hak-seon's defense attorney stated, "The defendant has confessed to all charges and deeply regrets his actions," and said, "He feels sorry to the victims and their families, and the crime was not premeditated."

Park Hak-seon was brought to trial on charges of killing a woman in her 60s, Ms. A, whom he was dating, and her daughter in her 30s, Ms. B, at an officetel located in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on May 30. After Ms. A informed him of their breakup due to her family's opposition to their relationship, Park went up to the victims' office, killed Ms. B, and then chased and killed Ms. A as she tried to escape. He fled after the crime but was arrested by the police 13 hours later. Due to the brutality of the crime and the severity of the damage, the police released Park Hak-seon's mugshot, name, age, and other personal information. The sentencing date for Park Hak-seon is scheduled for November 1.