"Not a Psychopath but High Risk of Recidivism"…Mental Evaluation of 'Medical Student Who Killed Girlfriend' Revealed

"Does Not Apply to Psychopaths"
"Victim Mentality, Accumulated Anger Emotions"

The results of a psychiatric evaluation of Choi Mo (25), a medical student who was prosecuted on charges of murdering his girlfriend, have been disclosed. Contrary to Choi's initial claims, it was determined that he was not in a state of mental or physical disability at the time of the crime. Additionally, while Choi was not classified as a psychopath, the risk of reoffending was found to be high.

According to a report by Yonhap News Agency, on the 7th, the Criminal Division 27 of the Seoul Central District Court (Presiding Judge Woo In-seong) revealed the psychiatric evaluation results during Choi's trial. This evaluation was requested by Choi's defense attorney at the first hearing in July to determine whether the medication Choi was taking under psychiatric diagnosis influenced the crime.

Choi Mo, a medical student in his 20s accused of stabbing and killing his girlfriend with a weapon (murder), is being transferred to the prosecution on the morning of May 14 at Seocho Police Station in Seocho-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The prosecution stated, "The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) was conducted, and the score was 10.5, indicating that he does not qualify as a psychopath," but added, "the risk of reoffending is at a high level."

They continued, "When the situation did not proceed as the defendant intended, he perceived his life as being infringed upon, and a strong hostility toward the victim manifested," explaining, "the defendant's sense of victimization, anger, and accumulated emotional state were expressed."

Results from a digital forensic examination of Choi's mobile phone were also revealed. It was found that before killing the victim, Choi searched for terms such as 'murder' and 'how to kill a person' on his phone. It was also investigated that he purchased duct tape to restrain the victim in case she resisted.

Choi is accused of killing his girlfriend, identified as A, with a weapon on the rooftop of a building near Gangnam Station in Seoul on May 6. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for November 8, during which the victim's side will give their final statement and the prosecution will present its sentencing recommendation.

Meanwhile, it was reported that the victim, A, had registered her marriage with Choi without informing her parents in April of this year. Upon discovering this later, the bereaved family filed a lawsuit to annul the marriage.