Life Imprisonment Upheld Despite Prosecution's Call for Death Penalty
Teenage Woman Murdered by Stranger on the Street Last September
Park Daesung (31), who brutally murdered a teenage woman he had never met before on the street, was sentenced to life imprisonment in his appeal trial, following the same verdict in the first trial.
On May 1, Yonhap News reported that the Gwangju High Court Criminal Division 1 (Presiding Judge Kim Jinhwa) sentenced Park Daesung to life imprisonment, the same as the original verdict, on charges including murder. Park Daesung was brought to trial for stabbing a woman (then 18 years old) multiple times with a weapon without any particular reason on a street in Jorye-dong, Suncheon, Jeonnam, at around 12:44 a.m. on September 26 last year, resulting in her death. After the crime, he also prepared for additional murders by visiting bars and karaoke rooms operated by female owners while carrying the weapon.
The motives for Park Daesung's crime, revealed during the investigation, included financial hardship, family discord, and accumulated feelings of alienation. He committed what is known as a "random killing" to vent his personal grievances. His personal information and mug shot were made public during the police investigation stage due to the brutality of the crime, the public's right to know, and the seriousness of the damage.
CCTV footage capturing Park Daesung smiling immediately after the crime (left) and Park Daesung's mug shot (right). Jeonnam Provincial Police Agency
On this day, the court also disclosed part of the letter of reflection submitted by Park Daesung. In his letter, he wrote, "I cannot imagine how much pain and suffering the victim, who was so young, must have felt after being stabbed with a weapon. Overwhelming regret hits me like madness. Although it is very late, I am still deeply remorseful. I sincerely apologize for leaving painful memories and wounds to the victim and her bereaved family."
The appellate court described Park Daesung's crime as "an extreme disregard for human life, a so-called 'random crime,'" and pointed out, "Unfortunately, murders are occurring nationwide, but there seems to be no other case that has provoked such public outrage as this one." Previously, at the sentencing hearing on April 3, the prosecution had sought the death penalty for Park Daesung. The prosecution stated, "Park Daesung brutally murdered the victim, who could not even begin to pursue her dreams at the prime of her youth, simply to resolve his personal emotions. Nevertheless, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial, which means he could be released on parole after about ten years," and requested the court to sentence him to death.
The appellate court explained its decision not to accept the prosecution's request for the death penalty, stating, "In previous cases where the death penalty was confirmed, there were multiple victims who died, the crimes were meticulously planned, or they involved serious offenses such as robbery in combination." The court added, "There does not appear to have been meticulous planning in this case." Furthermore, the court said, "We also considered the fact that parole is possible even with a life sentence," and added, "By strictly reviewing and restricting parole, it is possible to achieve the purpose and effect of life imprisonment, which is to permanently isolate the criminal from society and deprive them of freedom."
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