ㅣ Teen Who Murdered Peer High School Girl Sentenced to Maximum Penalty under Juvenile Law

ㅣ Teen Who Murdered Peer High School Girl Sentenced to Maximum Penalty under Juvenile Law

On Christmas Day last year, a teenager, A, who murdered a peer high school girl, was sentenced to the maximum penalty under juvenile law.

On the 1st, the Jinju branch of the Changwon District Court's Criminal Division 1 (Chief Judge Kim Ki-dong) sentenced A, who faced murder charges, to 20 years in prison. A was also ordered to wear an electronic monitoring device for 20 years.

Under current juvenile law, teenagers under 18 convicted of serious violent crimes can be sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison.

A was arrested for allegedly fatally stabbing a peer, B, whom he met online, at the entrance of an apartment in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province, around 8:50 PM on December 25 last year.

It appears that A had prepared the weapon in advance for the crime on the day of the incident.

Upon arriving in Sacheon via public transportation, A called B out with the statement, "I have something to give you," indicating that the murder was planned.

The court stated, "The defendant's crime was not simply an act of impulse or emotional outburst; it was a thoroughly premeditated murder." It added, "The method by which the victim's life was taken was extremely brutal, exhibiting high anti-social tendencies, and the risk of recidivism is significant."

Furthermore, it remarked, "The pain and sense of loss experienced by the victim's parents, who lost their only child, is beyond description," and expressed, "Upon comprehensive consideration, we impose the maximum penalty under juvenile law."

Previously, the prosecution had sought a 20-year prison sentence, 20 years of electronic monitoring, and 5 years of probation.

Immediately after the verdict, the victim's family and civic groups expressed their welcome of the court's maximum sentence but still conveyed a sense of regret.

A lawyer for the victim's family stated, "This ruling is the heaviest punishment available under current law, but from the family's perspective, the legal system itself is flawed," and emphasized, "We hope that the juvenile law amendment currently pending in the legislative committee passes the National Assembly's plenary session."

The local civic group "Sacheon Teen Female Murder Incident Countermeasure Committee" held a press conference in front of the court after the trial.

The organization stated, "This ruling carries a significant warning that such tragedies must not be repeated," and expressed support for strict law enforcement.

Image source: Chrysanthemums, dolls, and beverages piled up to honor the high school girl who died on Christmas Day in front of an apartment in Sacheon, Gyeongsangnam-do / Online Community, resource photo for understanding the article / Photo=Insight, women's organizations from Jinju and Sacheon are urging fundamental solutions to gender discrimination and violence against women in front of the Jinju branch of Changwon District Court on the 1st / News1