▲ Palm tree trunks at the palm farm where the body was found
Amid rising suspicions surrounding the death of a woman in her 30s, identified by her surname Chang, in connection with the "Jeju missing person false closure case," it has been revealed that the police even conducted a reenactment experiment to test whether hanging from a palm tree trunk is possible.
According to the Jeju Provincial Police Agency, police reenacted the suspected suicide method used by Chang at the palm grove in Hallim-eup, Jeju City, where her body was discovered.
Based on the posture of the body when found and the autopsy results, the police have been leaning toward the conclusion that there are no charges of homicide.
The police believe that Chang took a rope from her home, attached it to a palm tree trunk, and died by hanging herself while in a sitting position.
The autopsy report from the National Forensic Service also showed that while no special fractures were found, a fracture was detected in the remaining part of the hyoid bone.
The National Forensic Service explained that the hyoid bone is a very thin bone, and photographs from the autopsy showed its center separated.
However, suspicions of homicide persist.
In particular, doubts have been raised due to the characteristics of the Canary Island date palms in the grove where the body was found, noting that they have many thorns, making access difficult and hanging heavy objects challenging.
In response, during the forensic inspection at the time the body was discovered, the police conducted a strength test by pulling on the palm tree trunk.
It was confirmed that more specifically, police selected a tree of a similar shape near the palm tree presumed to have been used by Chang for suicide, and conducted a reenactment experiment using a trunk of a similar shape, a rope of identical strength, and an equivalent weight.
Meanwhile, Police Officer Bu partially admitted to the allegations, stating that he had not recently spoken with Chang or the parties involved in the missing person case of a man in his 60s.
The police plan to focus on uncovering the motive behind Police Officer Bu's actions and investigating any additional cases of false case closures.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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