▲ Daejeon District Court courtroom
Prosecutors have demanded a heavy prison sentence for a woman in her 30s who caused a fatal crash that killed a motorcycle rider while driving severely intoxicated and speeding with her young children in the vehicle.
During the appellate sentencing hearing held today before the 1st Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Court (Presiding Judge Kang Gil-yeon), prosecutors asked the court to sentence A, 38, to 17 years in prison on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (fatal hit-and-run) and violation of the Child Welfare Act (child abuse).
A was sent to trial for colliding with a motorcycle driven by B, 28, and causing his death while driving at a speed of 178 km/h on a road in Hongseong-gun, South Chungcheong Province, at around 9:19 PM on January 4, with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.211%, a level warranting license revocation.
A is also charged with fleeing the scene without taking necessary measures such as aiding the victim after causing the accident.
A's two daughters, aged 4 and 6, were also inside the vehicle, which was being driven recklessly, exceeding the speed limit by approximately 118 km/h and violating traffic signals.
Black box footage released to the media captured the voices of the two young daughters pleading, "I'm scared. Mom, please go slow."
Investigations revealed that rather than helping after the accident, A instead complained to witnesses, claiming her own children had been startled.
Consequently, prosecutors concluded that the reckless driving and the traffic accident frightened A's daughters, constituting emotional abuse, and indicted her under the Child Welfare Act for child abuse.
The first-instance court found her guilty on all charges and sentenced A to 12 years in prison.
The victim's family attended today's hearing to urge strict punishment for A.
The father of B took the witness stand and emphasized, "Please take a close look at the children's reactions in the black box. This surely wasn't the defendant's first time driving drunk and recklessly. Driving with children in the car at that speed is suicidal. I have lost my only son, and we cannot reach a settlement."
The victim's mother also wept as she turned toward the defendant and her legal counsel, crying out, "Have you ever offered a single sincere apology?"
A's side appealed for leniency, arguing that the sentence from the lower court was too harsh.
A's defense counsel explained, "The reason we argued a mistake of fact in the lower court was not because the defendant lacked responsibility, but because she could not remember the incident due to intoxication, and counsel handled it based on judgment. Because she was driving at a very high speed, she stopped about 100 meters further ahead before returning to the scene of the incident, and she had no intention to flee. We have also made efforts to reach a settlement."
A stated, "This is the most shameful moment of my life, and I will spend the rest of my life repenting with a heart of atonement toward the deceased. My actions carry a heavy crime, but please consider my potential for rehabilitation and show leniency. I am deeply sorry to the victim's family and pray for the repose of the deceased."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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