▲ Infant Abuse and Murder Case in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do (The Haedeun Case)
The biological mother who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial for indiscriminately assaulting, abusing, and causing the death of her 4-month-old son, "Haedeun" (a pseudonym), has had her sentence reduced on appeal.
The 2nd Criminal Division of the Gwangju High Court (Presiding Judge Hwang Jin-hee) sentenced the 30-something mother, identified as A, to 35 years in prison, overturning the lower court's life sentence during her appeal trial today (August 25) on charges including child abuse resulting in death under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes.
The court explained the reason for the reduction, stating, "It cannot be seen that the crime was meticulously planned in advance."
A is accused of indiscriminately assaulting her 4-month-old son at her home in Yeosu, Jeollanam-do, at around 11:43 a.m. on October 22 of last year, and leaving him unattended in a bathtub with running water, causing him to die from multiple fractures and bleeding.
Investigations revealed that the abuse was repeated 19 times starting from August 24 of the same year.
Numerous bruises, internal organ hemorrhaging, and 500 cc of bleeding within the abdominal cavity were reportedly found on the deceased infant's body.
Her husband, who was also put on trial alongside A on charges of condoning the abuse, received a prison sentence of 4 years and 6 months, the same as in the first trial.
The husband is also accused of threatening to file a complaint against a witness in the case.
This case sparked widespread public outrage, dubbed the "Haedeun Case," after home camera footage containing scenes of the abuse was partially broadcast in March on the SBS program "Unanswered Questions."
(Photo: Capture from the broadcast screen of SBS "Unanswered Questions", Yonhap News)
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