Face-to-face Interrogation of Suspect Teacher Not Possible at Present
Investigation Delayed Due to Suspect's Hospitalization and Health Condition
The police investigating the case of 8-year-old Kim Haneul will deploy profilers.
On the 14th, the Daejeon Police Agency's 'Haneul Case Dedicated Investigation Team' reported that they have deployed five profilers to analyze the criminal behavior of the suspect, teacher Myung Mo (in his 40s). The profilers are expected to clarify the suspect Myung Mo's motive and whether the crime was premeditated.
On the 12th, a police detective mobile unit vehicle entered an elementary school in Seo-gu, Daejeon, where the elementary school student Kim Ha-neul was murdered. Photo by Yonhap News
Additionally, the police are intensifying their analysis of various evidence obtained during the investigation, including Myung's mobile phone, computer, CCTV, and black box footage. However, it is reported that the suspect has not yet been interviewed because he remains hospitalized in the intensive care unit due to self-inflicted injuries immediately after the crime.
On the day of the crime, Myung personally purchased a weapon at a mart near the school. The investigation team secured testimony that Myung asked a mart employee, "Do you have a sharp knife?" The investigation team received an autopsy result from the National Forensic Service stating the cause of death as 'death due to multiple stab wounds,' and it is known that 'defensive wounds' were also confirmed on Haneul's hands and arms. Earlier, Haneul's father also testified that there were multiple stab marks on the left side of the child's body.
The police have established a policy to strictly punish malicious comments and defamation against Haneul's bereaved family. By 11 a.m. on the same day, they requested deletion or blocking of a total of 138 malicious posts, and they have additionally received one defamation case related to the bereaved family, conducting pre-indictment investigations on a total of three cases.
An 8-year-old girl named Kim Ha-neul, who was killed by a teacher at school, was laid to rest on the 14th. Photo by Yonhap News
Previously, the Daejeon Cyber Investigation Unit has been monitoring online posts and videos 24 hours a day to prevent the spread of insulting posts against the bereaved family.
It is known that Myung is resting after surgery, but face-to-face questioning is delayed. According to the dedicated investigation team, teacher Myung is on a ventilator and is not in a health condition to hold a conversation.
Earlier, the court issued an arrest warrant for Mr. A on the 11th, but it is expected to take more time before actual execution. If the suspect is arrested and detained, a detention warrant must be requested within 48 hours, but since Mr. A recently underwent emergency surgery, he may not be able to attend the warrant hearing due to mobility difficulties. The police plan to execute the arrest warrant after consulting with medical staff about the teacher's health condition. Considering that Myung's health condition is a variable, the execution period for the arrest warrant has been adjusted to 30 days. The usual execution period for an arrest warrant is 7 days, but it can be extended to more than 30 days if there are special reasons.
Meanwhile, according to the police, Haneul was found stabbed in the audiovisual room of an elementary school in Seo-gu, Daejeon, at around 5:50 p.m. on the 10th. Haneul was transported to the hospital while receiving CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) but ultimately passed away around 7 p.m. on the same day.
Myung, who has been receiving treatment for depression since 2018, returned to work early at the end of last year. In the police investigation, he testified, "I got irritated just three days after returning to work," and "the vice principal prevented me from entering the class."
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