A former Army non-commissioned officer, sentenced to a heavy prison term in the first trial for neglecting his wife until her body was covered in waste and her skin suffered necrosis, has denied the charges again in his appellate trial.
The 5th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Presiding Judge Kim Yong-seok) announced on the 21st that the legal counsel for the defendant, surnamed A, submitted an appeal brief maintaining his innocence during the first hearing of his appeal for murder.
A's defense claimed in the appeal brief, "The victim said, 'I will get up on my own, so please wait,' and she was always covered with a blanket, so he could not properly recognize her condition."
They also argued that the sentence from the first trial was too harsh, taking into account that he had continuously protected his spouse and did not actively inflict harm.
On the other hand, the prosecution argued in its appeal brief that "considering the victim's suffering and the fact that he has shown no remorse to this day, the sentence from the first trial is too light," demanding a life sentence as originally sought.
The court plans to hold another hearing on the 25th of next month to listen to statements from the victim's bereaved family and close the arguments if possible.
A was indicted in December of last year on charges of causing his wife's death by failing to take protective measures in November of last year, even though her entire body was contaminated with waste and her skin was undergoing necrosis due to infection and bedsores.
Investigations showed that he effectively neglected his wife for three months starting in August of that year, despite her having difficulty moving due to panic disorder and depression.
Later, on November 17 of that year, he called 119 reporting that "my wife's consciousness is fading," and A's wife passed away the following day while receiving treatment at a hospital.
A was emergency-arrested by the police following a report from the hospital staff who suspected neglect.
Although he denied the charges in court, stating that "he did not know his wife needed rescue," the military court handling the first trial found him guilty and sentenced him to 30 years in prison last month.
The first trial court ruled that A intentionally did not take his wife to the hospital because he found supporting her burdensome, recognizing the possibility of conditional intent to commit murder.
A was discharged from the military following the first trial's sentencing, becoming a civilian.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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