Seoul: Prosecutors on Friday once again pushed for the death penalty for a medical school student convicted of fatally stabbing his girlfriend, contending that the 26-year prison sentence imposed by a lower court was inadequate for the severity of the crime.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the 26-year-old student, identified only by his surname, Choi, was found guilty of murdering his girlfriend on the rooftop of a building near Gangnam Station in southern Seoul on May 6, 2024. During the final hearing of Choi's appeals trial at the Seoul High Court, prosecutors reiterated their demand for the death penalty, highlighting the grief endured by the victim's family and the viciousness of the act.
Choi's defense argued that the killing stemmed from "extreme behavior" rather than premeditated intent, emphasizing Choi's unstable psychological condition at the time. In his final statement, Choi expressed remorse, stating, "I want to apologize for this crime I committed, which makes me deserving of death." He acknowledged wrongfully blaming the victim and her family for his actions.
The initial verdict delivered by the Seoul Central District Court in December sentenced Choi to 26 years in prison, characterizing the murder as "deliberate," "cruel," and "highly reprehensible." Investigations also uncovered that Choi had registered for marriage with the victim without notifying their families. Subsequently, the victim's parents filed a lawsuit to annul the marriage.