The Scientific Investigation Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office has secured decisive evidence through precise DNA analysis that could overturn the verdict in the appellate trial.
According to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office on September 5, Mr. A was brought to trial on charges of sexually assaulting an acquaintance he met at a club gathering and visiting the victim's home without permission the following day.
In the first trial, the court acquitted Mr. A, stating that there was no evidence of semen reaction.
The initial analysis, which found Mr. A's Y-chromosome DNA on the victim's underwear and other items, did not influence the trial. The first trial panel considered that the Y-chromosome DNA analysis method could yield the same result for male relatives sharing the same paternal lineage, such as a father or brothers.
During the first trial, the victim died due to a chronic illness. As the victim could no longer testify in court, the prosecutor requested the Scientific Investigation Division of the Supreme Prosecutors' Office to conduct a detailed analysis of Mr. B's clothing. The analysis confirmed the presence of a semen reaction containing Mr. A's autosomal DNA. Since autosomal DNA varies from person to person, it can serve as decisive evidence.
Based on this, the appellate court recognized the credibility of Mr. B's testimony made while alive, sentenced Mr. A to two years in prison, and took him into custody in court. The Supreme Prosecutors' Office commented, "This is a case where scientific investigation helped resolve the victim's injustice."
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