Recording app zipper sound... Pyo Chang-won "Murder teacher suspected of crime concealment and escape"

"Depression Is Merely an Excuse and Rationalization...
Repeated Displays of Aggression Revealed"

Director Pyo Chang-won of the Crime Science Research Institute analyzed the case of Mr. A, a teacher in his 40s who murdered 8-year-old Kim Ha-neul at an elementary school in Daejeon, saying, "There is a clear intention to conceal the crime and avoid being caught," and added, "Criminals in this state are extremely dangerous."

On the 12th, on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show,' Director Pyo explained, "In the 2023 stabbing incidents committed by Choi Won-jong and Jo Seon, they waited at the scene after achieving their criminal goals, preparing to be caught when the police arrived. However, Mr. A hid the crime, lied, and prevented others from entering the crime scene. This indicates he was neither panicked nor agitated."

According to police reports from the previous day, upon learning that Ha-neul did not board her academy bus, her parents activated a child protection application (app) around 4:50 PM on the day of the incident to listen to sounds around the child. Ha-neul’s voice was not heard, but sounds of a woman gasping for breath and drawers and zippers being opened and closed were detected.

Regarding this, Director Pyo pointed out, "Based on the sounds recorded by the app, it is estimated that Mr. A was moving vigorously enough to produce heavy breathing," and added, "It is suspected that he was destroying evidence and tidying up the scene by opening drawers and bags, intending to flee."

At around 5:50 PM on the 10th, A, an 8-year-old first grader at an elementary school in Seo-gu, Daejeon, was found stabbed with a sharp weapon and in a state of cardiac arrest, but she died. Photo by Yonhap News Agency.

He also viewed the crime against the child as stemming from sadistic tendencies. Director Pyo said about the fact that Ha-neul was found after suffering many attacks, "Overkill, which is an excessive number of attacks beyond what is necessary, can only be seen as a sadistic desire."

He explained, "Overkill usually occurs when the perpetrator is so agitated that they do not understand their actions, when emotions are entangled with the victim, or when the perpetrator is very young and trembling with extreme anxiety and fear. But this case is different," adding, "The child was completely controlled, yet was attacked excessively cruelly with a prepared weapon."

Regarding some analyses that view Mr. A’s depression as a background for the crime, he said, "It may have some influence, but it is merely an excuse." Director Pyo stated, "Criminals often use excuses like alcohol, family conflicts, or unemployment," and added, "Depression is a condition many people can experience, to the extent it is called the common cold of the mind. I am concerned that depression patients might face disadvantages because of this incident."

He also said, "How one deals with depression is a personal judgment," and pointed out, "Ultimately, committing the crime was the individual's choice, and the illness is just a rationalization." He noted, "Mr. A had repeatedly shown aggression and violence even before the crime. This was a very direct factor leading him to commit the crime," and added, "There may be other influencing factors such as family conflicts that made him despair about his situation and attack and antagonize others. Further investigation is needed to clarify this."