Chang Yoon-ki Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in First Trial… Bereaved Family Requests Appeal

[Anchor]

Chang Yoon-ki, who killed a high school girl for the purpose of sexual assault, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial. The bereaved family, who had pleaded for the death penalty, protested, stating they could not accept the verdict.

Reporter Dong Eunyeong has the details.

[Reporter]

Wearing a yellowish-brown prison uniform, Chang Yoon-ki enters the Gwangju District Court with a blank expression for his first-instance sentencing hearing.

The prosecution, which indicted him on charges including rape and murder punishable only by death or life imprisonment, had previously sought the death penalty during the sentencing hearing.

The first-instance court recognized all the charges as guilty, stating that the crime was merciless and brutal, inflicting irreversible pain on the victim and her family.

The court strongly rebuked Chang, noting that rather than truly repenting or reflecting on his actions, he showed an attitude of trying to dodge situations moment by moment.

The court also stated that it determined Chang must be permanently isolated from society, but explained that sentencing him to life imprisonment instead of death was the result of deep deliberation.

The court explained, "Judges are also human beings before being judges," adding that it had thoughts such as, "Is it not right to impose the ultimate punishment depriving one of life?" while considering the fact that South Korea is a de facto abolitionist state regarding the death penalty.

However, the court stated that it specified in the judgment that parole must not be allowed as long as Chang is alive.

While Chang showed little reaction at the moment the life sentence was handed down, the parents of the late Lee Chae-won, who recently held a one-person protest asking for the death penalty, cried out, "Chae-won, I'm sorry," and could not stop sobbing.

[Mother of the Late Lee Chae-won : I want to ask whether the court even for a single moment truly comprehended the horrific terror Chae-won must have felt in that terrifying moment and the hell-like sorrow that the remaining parents must carry for the rest of their lives. Why must the perpetrator be saved while the victim had to die?]

The bereaved family pointed out whether life imprisonment without the possibility of parole should be institutionalized by law if not a death sentence, and stated they will request the prosecution to appeal.

(Video by Kim Hak-mo | Video Editing by Lim Yeojin)

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