Father Who Beat Infant Son to Death Gets 10-Year Prison Term Upheld on Appeal

A father who beat his 3-month-old son to death has again been sentenced to 10 years in prison, the same as in the original trial. On the 30th, the Criminal Division 1 of the Busan High Court's Changwon Branch (Presiding Judge Park Kwang-seo) upheld the original ruling for Mr. Kim, in his 30s, who was charged with violating the Child Abuse Punishment Act (child abuse homicide).

The court stated, "He made the most vulnerable member of his family and society the target of his anger, and the victimized child ended his short life amid unimaginable suffering," adding, "His actions cannot be easily forgiven, and he must be held to strict legal responsibility." The investigation revealed that Mr. Kim committed the crime due to a combination of conflict with his wife, frustration over caring for the baby alone, and anger at his wife for opposing his drinking.

Mr. Kim was indicted on charges of killing infant A by striking his head four times with both palms while the baby lay in a crib at a residence in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, at around 2 a.m. on November 4 last year. Two days before the crime, he had argued with his wife over drinking and financial problems, and after she left home, he brought a sex worker home, drank, and then committed the crime. The following day, his wife returned home to find A not breathing and reported it to police. A, who was taken to hospital, ultimately died from a skull fracture and bleeding.

During the trial, Mr. Kim argued that he had no intent to kill. However, the first-instance court found that he had, at least with indirect intent, and sentenced him to 10 years in prison. He appealed, but his appeal was rejected.