40s Parent Who Hit Daycare Teacher with 'Dirty Diaper' Says "Give Me a Chance" in Court

Appeal Filed Against Suspended Sentence in First Trial
"I Couldn't Control My Anger... Please Give Me Another Chance"
Prosecution Questions Remorse... Requests One-Year Prison Sentence

A mother in her 40s, who suspected her child was being abused and hit a daycare teacher's face with a diaper soiled with the child's feces, pleaded for leniency at the appellate trial.

Court. Asia Economy DB

According to Yonhap News on the 3rd, the first appellate trial for the injury charge against the mother, Ms. A in her 40s, was held under the Daejeon District Court 3-3 Criminal Division (Chief Judge Park Eun-jin). On that day, Ms. A's lawyer appealed to the court for leniency, arguing that the first trial's sentencing was unfair, with factual errors and legal misunderstandings. Previously, the first trial court sentenced Ms. A to six months in prison with a two-year probation, but both Ms. A and the prosecution filed appeals against the decision.

Ms. A is accused of hitting daycare teacher Mr. B (53) in the face with a diaper soiled with feces at around 4:20 p.m. on September 10, 2023, inside a hospital restroom in Sejong City, covering his face with feces and causing injuries including bruising around the eyes, resulting in a two-week medical treatment period. At the time, Ms. A was at the hospital due to her second child's hospitalization. While suspecting abuse after her eldest son was injured at the daycare, she committed the act in a moment of anger when the daycare director and Mr. B came to the hospital to discuss the matter.

In her final statement, Ms. A said, "Although there was a dispute in the civil trial, I accepted the court's recommendation for reconciliation to resolve it as quickly as possible and gave the injured teacher 45 million won," adding, "I am ashamed and embarrassed for committing the crime in a moment of uncontrollable anger." She also appealed, saying, "The fault and responsibility for causing injury are mine, and I ask for a chance to live a mature life and maintain my family life."

However, the prosecution, as in the first trial, demanded a one-year prison sentence, stating, "The nature of the crime is not light, and the defendant still claims to have entered the victim teacher's hospital room, showing little sign of remorse."

The sentencing for Ms. A will be held on the 17th.