"The defendant's antisocial and inhumane crimes remain etched on the victim's body."
A 34-year-old mother, identified as A, was sentenced to life in prison for killing her 4-month-old son through persistent abuse. The 36-year-old father, identified as B, who neglected the abuse despite being aware of it, was sentenced to four years and six months in prison.
On Tuesday, the First Criminal Division of the Suncheon Branch of Gwangju District Court (presiding judge Kim Yong-gyu) sentenced A to life imprisonment on charges including child abuse resulting in death, and B to four years and six months in prison on charges including neglect of child abuse. The court applied sentences at the upper limit permitted under the Supreme Court's sentencing guidelines to both defendants.
Presiding Judge Kim spent more than 30 minutes explaining the sentencing reasoning, taking into account that A had acknowledged the abuse but denied intent to kill. "The mother's abuse was at a level that was unimaginable for an infant," he said. "The horrific traces of abuse found on the victim's body were so severe that it is difficult to find a precedent."
He continued, "Considering her experience raising her first child and her career as a physical therapist, the defendant must have been well aware of how vulnerable a 4-month-old baby is. Even if she did not actively wish for the child's death, she must have been aware that her actions could lead to death."
Judge Kim particularly rebuked the defendant, saying, "The baby died in a miserable state after being abused by his parents, who were his entire world, for nearly half of the 133 days he lived — 60 days. The antisocial and inhumane crimes remain etched on the victim's body." He also emphasized the atrocity of the case, noting, "The image of the victim lying still looking at a mobile appeared lonely, yet it almost seemed peaceful."
He added, "The defendant also showed aspects of an ordinary mother, such as holding the awakened child and looking in the mirror, or sobbing and expressing remorse after the incident. It is also the court's duty to exercise appropriate sentencing authority to console the victim and achieve justice."
However, B received a sentence lower than the 10-year term sought by prosecutors. The court explained the sentencing reasoning: "If he had restrained (his wife's abuse) or empathized and communicated about child-rearing with a responsible attitude, the tragic outcome could have been prevented. However, the indictment does not include whether he was a co-conspirator on the day of the incident that directly led to the victim's death, nor does it include child abuse resulting in death."
The case came to light when prosecutors secured and analyzed home camera footage installed in the residence through a search and seizure.
A was indicted on charges of assaulting her 4-month-old son (pseudonym Haeden) 18 times at her home in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, between August 24 and October 21 of last year, and leaving him unattended in a bathtub with the water running, causing his death. The investigation revealed that A continuously abused the baby, including stepping on the sleeping infant's face and throwing him by the ankles. It was also confirmed that she assaulted the baby while shouting profanities such as "Die, because of you" and "[expletive], I don't need someone like you" whenever the baby cried.
B was also brought to trial on charges of neglecting the abuse despite knowing about it, as well as intimidating a witness to recant their statement.
