The trial for a man in his 30s, surnamed Lee, the perpetrator of the so-called 'Busan roundhouse kick' case, has been delayed after he failed to appear in court for his appeal hearing regarding charges of making retaliatory threats against the victim while incarcerated.
The Busan High Court was scheduled to hold an appeal hearing today for Lee, who is charged with retaliatory threats, but postponed the trial to a later date because Lee, who is currently in custody, did not appear in court.
Lee also failed to appear at the previous hearing in May, which resulted in that trial being postponed as well.
The specific reason for Lee's absence has not been disclosed.
While the court noted that a statement explaining his absence had been submitted, the judges summoned the prison officer responsible for transporting the detained defendant to court to verify the circumstances behind Lee's failure to attend.
The court then warned the officer, stating, "If he refuses to appear for the same reason at the next hearing, we will consider it a refusal to attend without justifiable cause."
Lee is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for assaulting a woman in the common hallway of an officetel in Busan in May 2022, where he followed her with the intent to commit sexual assault and kicked her in the head.
He was subsequently indicted on additional charges, including making retaliatory remarks to a fellow inmate while in prison, in which he mentioned the victim's address.
In February, the first-instance court sentenced Lee to an additional one year in prison, but both Lee and the prosecution appealed the decision, moving the case to the Busan High Court.
The victim's side criticized the situation, stating, "It appears that Lee is using the delay of the trial as a tool."
They added, "Because the defendant does not show up, the entire process is at a standstill. The victim is forced to keep waiting and endure the fear for a longer period."
Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Kim Hye-ju | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
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