▲ A police officer indicted for destroying evidence in the Jang Yoon-ki case boards a transport vehicle.
Police officers who applied general murder charges under the Criminal Act to Jang Yoon-ki (23), who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial on charges of rape and murder, argued in court that they "did not recognize the motive of a sexual crime in the early stages of the investigation."
Judge Lee Seung-yeon of Criminal Division 12 at the Gwangju District Court held the fourth trial today (November 4) for Police Inspector Park (57, detained), the violent crimes unit leader at the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station, and Police Sergeant Kim (41), a team member, on charges including abetment of evidence destruction, and conducted examinations for each defendant.
During today's trial, regarding Jang's motive for the crime, Inspector Park stated, "In the early stages of the case, I only suspected Jang to be somewhat of a psychopath," adding, "I believe the criticism of botched investigation is a post-investigation evaluation."
Regarding the reason why he handed over Jang's vehicle and studio apartment to his family without preserving them before the forensic investigation results came out, he claimed, "I judged that the forensics were completed," and "Overwhelmed with work, I forgot about those parts."
As for why he did not seize zip ties, which were binding tools found inside Jang's car, and two damaged real dolls found in his studio apartment as pieces of evidence, Inspector Park said, "I judged they were unrelated to the crime. At the time, I didn't have the luxury to think deeply."
Regarding the reason he instructed a team member who was taking Jang's statement protocol not to "steer it toward sexual matters," he stated, "We had spent about three hours soothing Jang, who was refusing to give a statement," and added, "Since that team member and Jang had argued during the interrogation process, it was meant to prevent a petty dispute."
Regarding the reason why they investigated the 'high school girl murder' and the 'foreign woman rape' separately among Jang's crimes, he stated, "It was a decision made by the command, so I cannot really say anything about it."
As for why he did not accept a team member's suggestion to send Jang to prosecutors on charges of rape and murder, he protested, "Judging that there was only circumstantial evidence without a confession, I listened to the opinions of other team members before leaving an investigation report," and added, "Thinking that it might be criticized by the media if it falls apart in future prosecution investigations or trials, the intention was to send only what was certain."
Police Sergeant Kim, who was indicted alongside Inspector Park, also argued, "We did not recognize the need to seize the real dolls and zip ties in the early stages of the investigation," and "None of the various investigators deployed to the scene mentioned that need."
The court is scheduled to close the argument proceedings and hold a sentencing hearing on November 25.
Inspector Park and others were indicted on charges of failing to secure key evidence such as the damaged real dolls and zip ties during an emergency search of Jang's residence and vehicle in May during the investigation of the Jang Yoon-ki case, and leaking the investigation status to Jang's father, who is a serving police officer.
The charges against Inspector Park also include instructing a member of the investigation team to delete and not forward a video of the zip ties filmed during the vehicle search.
The controversy over the botched investigation into the Jang Yoon-ki case flared up when the Gwangju District Prosecutors' Office (currently the Gwangju District Prosecution Service), which took over the case from the police, identified the charges of rape and murder through supplementary investigations such as analyzing real doll videos.
The Prosecution Service also indicted four former and current police command figures, including former National Office of Investigation head Park Sung-ju (60)—who directed the separate investigations into the 'high school girl murder' and 'part-time job colleague stalking and rape' crimes—on charges including abuse of authority to obstruct the exercise of rights.
(Photo: Yonhap News)
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