[Subtitle News] Trusted Biological Father to "Find a Doctor," But Baby Left to Die in Motel Sink

A woman in her 20s has been sentenced to six years in prison for giving birth to a baby in a motel and leaving the infant in a sink, leading to the child's death.

The Uijeongbu District Court sentenced the woman, identified as A, to six years in prison on charges of child abuse resulting in death.

The court explained its ruling, stating, "The defendant could have sufficiently sought help or prevented the worst-case scenario of the victim's death on her own, either just before or immediately after giving birth." The court added, "It is acknowledged that the victim died due to the defendant's actions and that there was implied intent."

The court further noted, "If the defendant had exercised minimal care, the victim could have been born and survived healthily," adding, "The victim passed away, ending a short life without ever being called by a name."

However, the court also stated, "It appears the defendant was unable to make sound judgments in a state of panic after giving birth without any plan, having kept her pregnancy hidden from those around her." The court added, "It would be harsh to place the entire responsibility for the crime on the defendant alone, as she received no help from her family, friends, or the victim's biological father."

A is accused of causing the death of her newborn daughter at a motel in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, on December 13 of last year.

Police, responding to a report from the motel owner, discovered the newborn in a sink filled with water. The baby, who was in cardiac arrest, was transported to a hospital but ultimately passed away.

The prosecution determined that after learning of her pregnancy, A attempted to have an abortion but was unable to do so because the pregnancy was too far along, leading her to give birth alone in the motel room.

The prosecution indicted her on charges of child abuse resulting in death, concluding that her act of leaving the baby in the water-filled bathroom sink for approximately 10 minutes immediately after birth led to the infant's death.

In response, A's side argued, "There was no intent to kill, as she washed the baby and wrapped her in a towel immediately after birth."

A's defense attorney further claimed, "After becoming pregnant, the defendant was asked by the victim's biological father to send money under the pretext of finding a doctor," adding, "The defendant is also a victim who was defrauded of money."

A has filed a complaint against the biological father of the child for fraud.

Reported by Jung Da-eun | Video by Lee Da-in | Graphics by Lee Soo-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.