Biological Parents Deny Intent, Claiming "No Intention to Kill"
At the end of last year, the full details of abuse against a 25-month-old child who died in Daejeon, including the biological parents feeding the child ramen sauce and soju?both difficult even for adults to consume?and repeatedly assaulting the child, were revealed. However, the biological parents claimed in court that there was no intent.
On the 6th, the 11th Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Court (Chief Judge Choi Seok-jin) held the first trial for the case involving a couple in their 30s, Mr. and Mrs. A, charged with child abuse resulting in death, habitual child abuse, and habitual child abandonment and neglect. They are accused of abusing and killing their 25-month-old daughter in Tanbang-dong, Seo-gu, Daejeon, between December 15 and 16 of last year.
The prosecution argued, "The couple became disillusioned with raising the child due to the child's poor health as a premature baby and the increasing burden of medical expenses, which led to the abuse." The indictment detailed the full extent of the abuse inflicted by the couple on the child.
According to the prosecution, the couple stopped using the gastrostomy tube (a tube connected to the stomach) for the child after hospital discharge and force-fed the child solid food. The child, who did not receive proper nutrition, eventually became malnourished.
There was also habitual physical abuse. Since around October last year, the couple repeatedly assaulted the child, causing multiple fractures. They even fed the child Buldak Bokkeum Myun sauce, known as a spicy ramen sauce, using a teaspoon, and gave soju in a medicine bottle. Afterwards, the couple neglected to take the child to the hospital. Ultimately, the child died the next day, and the couple called 119 at 1:06 a.m. on December 16, last year, reporting that "the baby is not breathing."
The prosecution pointed out, "Even after the child died, they did not report immediately but neglected the child out of fear that their abuse would be discovered, and only reported when they judged that resolving the situation on their own was impossible." They also criticized, "Both were aware of each other's abusive acts but took no action."
The lawyer representing the deceased child at the trial stated, "The victim was only two years old at the time and was unable to protect themselves or seek help. The victim is already deceased, and there are no relatives to express opinions," and requested, "As the defense attorney, I plead for severe punishment."
The couple’s defense attorney said, "The defendants fundamentally show remorse and do not intend to deny the charges," but argued, "However, there was no intent to kill, and the causal relationship between the abuse and death needs to be clarified."
The court said, "While the facts are acknowledged, there are some denials of certain acts; please carefully consider and present your opinions later," and warned, "This may be seen as an unacceptable excuse to evade responsibility."
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