Wife of 'Suitcase Body' Murder Suspect Testifies: "He Beat My Mother Thousands of Times"

In the trial of Jo Jae-bok (26), who is charged with parricide and abandoning a body after beating his mother-in-law to death and hiding her remains in a suitcase, the victim's daughter—who is also the defendant's wife—testified as a witness, stating, "The man (her husband) beat my mother thousands of times."

Jo's wife provided a detailed account of the circumstances leading to her mother's death, including the prolonged assault on the day of the crime, as well as the abuse, surveillance, and financial control that began after they registered their marriage.

The witness, identified as Choi (26), appeared at the Daegu District Court today (July 2) for a trial presided over by Judge Chae Hee-in of the 13th Criminal Division.

Considering the sensitive nature of the testimony involving Choi's private life and the details of the crime, the court conducted the witness examination behind closed doors starting at 10:15 a.m.

Choi's father and representatives from human rights organizations for women and the disabled were present during the examination to provide emotional support.

Throughout the testimony, Choi referred to her husband, Jo, simply as "the man."

"After we registered our marriage, he began to use violence and verbal abuse," Choi testified. "When we lived in Gyeongsan, he only hit me and did not hit my mother, but after we moved to Daegu, he started assaulting her as well."

She continued, "He would assault us over trivial matters, such as not cleaning properly or dropping food, and he would threaten to kill me if I did not bring him money. He also used a home security camera installed in the house to monitor me so I could not escape."

Choi testified that her mother died following a prolonged assault by Jo that began on March 17.

"The man beat my mother so severely that she could no longer walk on her own and could barely speak," she said. "He dragged her into the bathroom to continue the assault, and after that, she lost consciousness."

She added, "I was worried and even checked to see if she was still breathing, but I did not report it because I was afraid that if we went to the hospital, they would ask who had beaten her. He hit her much longer and more severely than usual, thousands of times."

When the presiding judge asked, "Are you saying he assaulted her thousands of times with the force of an adult male striking someone?" Choi replied, "Yes. He hit her very hard."

In her final statement, Choi said, "I hope the man receives a life sentence, and I want to divorce him as soon as possible."

During today's court session, the prosecution submitted additional evidence, including the victim's autopsy report, records of the defendant using accounts under the names of the victim and his wife, and details regarding loans and mobile phone registrations.

The prosecutor explained, "The defendant forced his mother-in-law to borrow money from acquaintances. The motive for the crime is linked to financial reasons."

Jo argued, "I used the bank accounts of my mother-in-law and my wife with their permission. I also opened the mobile phone in my mother-in-law's name because she told me to, and I paid for the costs."

Jo was arrested and indicted for beating his mother-in-law (who was 54 at the time of her death) to death over a long period at an officetel-style studio apartment in Jung-gu, Daegu, last March, and then abandoning her body in a suitcase near the Sincheon stream in Chilseong-dong, Buk-gu.

He is also facing charges of special confinement resulting in injury for subjecting his wife and mother-in-law to abuse, surveillance, and financial control.
 
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※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.