A woman in her 50s suffering from mental illness has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for the murder of her granddaughter and the abuse of her grandson.

According to legal sources on the 29th, Ms. A (54), who was charged with violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, recently submitted a request to withdraw her appeal to the Daejeon High Court. Consequently, the 6-year prison sentence imposed in the first and second trials has been finalized.

Ms. A is accused of assaulting her 3-year-old granddaughter, B, on August 12, 2023, and suffocating her by pressing her face into a pillow. She was also charged with abusing her grandson by biting his face.

Ms. A suddenly found herself raising her grandchildren alone at the request of her son and had stopped taking her medication after being diagnosed with a mental illness.

During the trial, Ms. A pleaded for leniency, saying, "I am sorry for the child."

However, the first trial court emphasized the defendant's responsibility, stating, "A young life holds a value that cannot be compared to anything else." Considering that she had no choice but to care for the child despite her mental health issues, the court sentenced her to 6 years in prison with treatment and rehabilitation.

Ms. A appealed, claiming the sentence was too severe, but the appeals court dismissed her request.

The court stated, "The defendant continued the act of murder immediately after assaulting the child," affirming the original judgment recognizing the establishment of child abuse and murder charges.

Additionally, it explained that it chose the minimum recommended sentence while considering mitigating factors such as diminished capacity and the request for leniency.

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