Court Recognizes Additional Preliminary Murder Charges
"Shock, Fear, and Anxiety Among Members of Society"
Park Daesung (31), a 'random murder suspect' who brutally killed a teenage girl he did not know late at night, was sentenced to life imprisonment.
According to Yonhap News Agency, on the 9th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Suncheon Branch of the Gwangju District Court (Chief Judge Kim Yonggyu) sentenced Park Daesung, who was indicted on charges of murder and attempted murder, to life imprisonment in the first trial. The court also ordered the defendant to wear an electronic monitoring device for 20 years.
Park Daesung is accused of killing an 18-year-old female victim with a sharp weapon without any clear reason while she was walking in Jorye-dong, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, at around 0:44 a.m. on September 26 last year. Afterwards, he is also charged with preparing for additional murders by visiting a pub and a karaoke room operated by a female owner, carrying the murder weapon without wearing shoes.
Park Dae-sung, who brutally murdered a teenage girl without any particular reason. Photo by Yonhap News
Earlier, the police disclosed Park Daesung’s personal information and mugshot during the investigation phase, considering the brutality of the crime and the serious damage caused.
The first trial court stated, "The victim, an only daughter in her family who was preparing to take her first steps into society, died at a young age without being able to fully realize her dreams," and added, "The fear and helplessness the victim experienced from the sudden attack are difficult to describe in words, and it seems very difficult for the bereaved family to heal their great mental pain and wounds and return to daily life."
Furthermore, the court explained the sentencing reasons, saying, "The crime’s outcome is serious, and the nature of the crime is very bad as the perpetrator targeted a person with whom he had no relationship for no reason. It caused shock, fear, and anxiety among members of our society that someone could be killed in the middle of the city for no reason. Moreover, the defendant showed no sincere remorse or reflection, even smiling when questioned by investigators."
In the trial that day, Park Daesung admitted to the murder charge but denied the charge of attempted murder for seeking additional victims after the incident, claiming, "I do not remember because I was drunk." However, the court found him guilty of the attempted murder charge as well.
Evidence showed that Park Daesung wandered around the area for about an hour after the murder, visited a bar hiding the weapon used in the crime at his waist, barely drank the ordered alcohol, and ran out. At a karaoke room, he was found to have said something to the effect of "I can kill someone."
The court stated, "Considering that the bar and karaoke room were open late at night and had no people around, it appears he was looking for additional easy targets for murder even after killing a victim unrelated to him," and added, "It seems he gave up due to accidental circumstances such as the presence of other customers."
Meanwhile, the prosecution plans to decide whether to appeal after reviewing the judgment.
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