Newborn Neglect Death Case: Prosecutors and Defendant Both Appeal First Instance Ruling

Both the prosecution and the defense have appealed the first instance ruling for 20-something woman Ms. A, who was sentenced to six years in prison for abandoning a newborn baby in a hotel sink, leading to the infant's death. The prosecution had sought a 15-year prison sentence, and Ms. A's side also deemed the first instance sentence unfair and lodged an appeal.

The Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office appealed the first instance verdict on the 29th of last month for Ms. A (24), who was indicted and detained on charges of child abuse resulting in death. The defendant, Ms. A's side, also submitted an appeal to the court on the same day.

Ms. A was indicted on charges of giving birth to a baby in a hotel in Uijeongbu City on December 13, 2025, and then abandoning the infant in a bathroom sink filled with water, leading to the baby's death. Ms. A had visited a hospital to undergo an abortion before the incident but was unable to proceed with the surgery as she had passed the eligible period.

The Uijeongbu District Court, which presided over the first instance trial, sentenced Ms. A to six years in prison. Due to the appeals filed by both sides, the case will proceed to the appellate trial at the Seoul High Court.