"Clinging to Mom Even After Being Hurt": Last CCTV Footage of Baby Released; Mother Denies Intent to Kill

A woman in her 30s, accused of killing her 8-month-old son by striking his head with a TV remote, denied any intent to murder during her first trial.

At the trial held today (June 12) at the Ansan Branch of the Suwon District Court, presided over by Judge Park Ji-young of the Second Criminal Division, the defendant's attorney stated regarding the charges of child abuse resulting in death (child abuse homicide), "We acknowledge the death caused by abuse, but we do not admit to child abuse homicide."

When the presiding judge asked, "Are you saying that while you acknowledge the basic facts, there was no intent or motive to kill?" the attorney replied, "That is correct."

When asked by the judge, "Did you lack the financial means to treat the child at the time of the incident?" the defendant, identified as A, replied, "I had no financial means, and because my first child was home alone, I could not provide proper treatment."

When the judge asked again, "Did you not have the opportunity to seek treatment over several days?" A testified, "I watched the child throughout the weekend, and since the condition seemed to be improving, my husband and I thought he would be okay."

The judge subsequently denied the defense attorney's request to view petitions for strict punishment submitted to the court, stating, "It is inappropriate to disclose petitions submitted to the court to the defense counsel." The judge then read the contents of one such petition in the courtroom.

The petitioner, who identified herself as a mother raising a child, wrote, "I felt immense sorrow after seeing the hospital CCTV footage of the victimized baby, who was clinging tightly to his mother's arms even after being severely injured." She added, "How painful and difficult it must have been for the child, left neglected at home until he passed away. I urge the court to deeply consider the suffering of the victimized child and impose a strict punishment so that such abuse cases are not repeated."

During the reading of the petition, A sat still, staring ahead without any visible change in expression.

The court has currently received multiple petitions of a similar nature calling for strict punishment.

The court decided to consolidate this case with another case, currently assigned to a single-judge criminal court, involving the abuse of the defendant's first child, and to continue the proceedings at the next hearing.

A was arrested and indicted last month on charges of striking her 8-month-old son, B, with a remote control at their home in Siheung on April 10 because he would not stop crying, which led to his death four days later.

Investigations revealed that after the assault, A took the child to a local pediatrician, where she was advised to visit a larger hospital, but she returned home instead. Later, at a general hospital in Bucheon, she was advised to have the child hospitalized but failed to do so.

B's condition worsened, and he was taken to the emergency room of the same general hospital three days later, where he passed away the following day.

A's husband is also under investigation on charges of failing to take active protective measures despite being aware of the abuse.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.