▲ Kim Dong-hwan, who has been detained on charges of murdering an airline pilot, speaks to reporters as he boards a transport vehicle at the Busan Busanjin Police Station on August 26. (Photo: Yonhap News)
Kim Dong-hwan, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial for targeting six people, including a fellow pilot, for murder and killing one of them, has once again requested a change of his state-appointed defense counsel during his first appellate trial.
The 2nd Criminal Division of the Busan High Court held the first appellate trial today (the 28th) for Kim, who has been indicted on charges including murder.
It was confirmed that Kim expressed dissatisfaction with his current state-appointed defense counsel and applied for a change, while the attorney in question also submitted an application for permission to resign.
Taking into account the positions of both the defendant and the attorney, the court accepted the request for a change, but stated that if another change is requested even after a new state-appointed defense counsel is appointed, it will view the matter very negatively.
The court added that unless there are very special circumstances, further changes will be difficult.
In response, Kim stated that he is not asking for special defense, but simply wants a counsel who can assist him in receiving a fair trial.
During the first-instance trial, Kim also applied to change his state-appointed defense counsel, but the court at the time did not accept the request.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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