A man in his 40s who killed his two sons by driving into the sea after drugging them with sleeping pills, disguised as a family trip, pleaded for a reduced sentence in his appeals trial.
The 2nd Criminal Division of the Gwangju High Court (Presiding Judge Lee Eui-young) concluded arguments on December 16 in the appeal of Ji, 49, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the first trial on charges of murder and aiding suicide. The court will deliver its verdict on January 13 next year.
Ji is accused of killing his wife and two high school-aged sons by driving his car into the sea near Jindo Port in South Jeolla Province at 1:12 a.m. on June 1. Owing approximately 200 million won ($148,000) to credit card companies and other creditors, he decided to commit suicide together with his wife but deceived his sons by telling them it was a "family trip."
At around 11:10 p.m. on May 31, while the sons were eating instant noodles, he gave them an energy drink laced with dissolved sleeping pills, then placed the sleeping children in the back seat of the car. Arriving at Paengmok Port in Jindo at 1 a.m. the next day, Ji and his wife took sleeping pills before he drove the car into the sea.
The moment the car plunged into the water, Ji felt terror and escaped alone through the driver's side window, swimming for 20 minutes to reach land. He stated that "my wife in the passenger seat was also awake." However, instead of calling 119 emergency services, he asked an acquaintance for a ride and fled to Gwangju. He was arrested after the school reported the children's absence as suspicious.
The first trial court sentenced him to life imprisonment, stating, "It is suspected that he may have viewed his sons and his wife with chronic illness as burdens because of his debt, raising doubts about his basic humanity," and "Crimes that violate others' lives must be met with appropriate punishment to prevent recurrence."
In the appeals trial, Ji argued that his sentence was excessive. When the court asked why he neither reported the incident nor turned himself in, he answered, "I was not thinking clearly and only wanted to die." The court asked, "Were 16 and 17-year-olds not old enough to survive without their parents?" Ji responded, "I thought it would be better to die together than for the four of us to be separated. I regret not having treated them better."
The prosecution argued, "Leniency and reduced sentencing are entirely inappropriate for this case," stating, "He deserves the death penalty, and life imprisonment itself is already lenient." The prosecution requested the appeal be dismissed. The court will hold a sentencing hearing at 2 p.m. on January 13 next year.
