A 24-year-old man, accused of fatally stabbing a friend with a coat hanger while intoxicated, has admitted to the act but denied murderous intent, claiming he has no memory of the incident. The victim’s family is demanding severe punishment, urging the court to “throw out the trash.” The Daegu District Court’s Criminal Division 12 held its second public hearing on the case involving the defendant, identified as Jeong Jae-hwan, who faces charges including homicide, injury, and theft.
Defense Argues Lack of Intent Amidst Memory Loss
Jeong’s defense team acknowledged the factual basis of the alleged actions, which include homicide, assault, and theft. However, they contended that Jeong lacked the specific intent to kill at the time of the offense. The lawyer stated that Jeong does not recall the events of that night due to his intoxicated state. When questioned by the presiding judge if this was his stance, Jeong briefly responded, “Yes.”
The court pointed out that a claim of memory loss alone does not automatically negate awareness or intent to commit a crime. The judge noted that Jeong’s actions after the incident, such as taking photos, would be considered when assessing the full circumstances of the offense.
Victim’s Family Demands Justice
The victim’s legal representative argued that a psychiatric evaluation of the defendant is necessary and that claims of diminished mental capacity should not be accepted. The lawyer for the victim’s family asserted that Jeong had requested a mental evaluation, claiming to be in a state of intoxication, and therefore must have been aware he was harming another person.
The court acknowledged the importance of assessing Jeong’s psychological state, stating that it would review the existing records and determine if further psychiatric evaluation is required, irrespective of whether diminished capacity is recognized. The court also decided not to accept the defense’s request for a prescription drug verification, but indicated that a petition could be submitted instead.
Numerous friends of both the victim and the defendant were present in the courtroom. Some were seen crying during the proceedings. The victim’s stepfather expressed his grief, describing his son as an ordinary student who was raised with great care. He lamented that his child died a death worse than that of an animal on the street.
“The pain of the victim’s family is something that cannot be understood without experiencing it directly,” he stated, adding that only by losing one’s own child or grandchild could one truly comprehend the depth of their suffering. He recounted being unable to hold his son’s hand due to the brutal nature of the death and living with the guilt of a criminal every day while looking at his photo. He reiterated his plea for severe punishment for Jeong, saying, “Throw out the trash.”
Details of the Incident
The alleged crime occurred around 3:40 AM on July 4th, at Jeong’s residence in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Jeong is accused of stabbing his friend, the victim, multiple times with a coat hanger while they were drinking. In addition to the fatal stabbing, Jeong is also charged with assaulting another friend who was present and stealing two banana milks from a nearby convenience store after the incident.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 2nd.
