A psychopathy examination was conducted for Myung Jae-wan (48), who is suspected of murdering Kim Ha-neul (7) at an elementary school in Daejeon, but the initial findings indicated otherwise.
According to the Daejeon Police Agency's dedicated investigation team on the 12th, the police conducted a psychopathy examination during the investigation of Myung Jae-wan, who is suspected of violating the Act on the Prevention of Severe Crimes Against Minors (abduction and trafficking of minors under 13). The examination results confirmed that the initial findings indicated he is not a psychopath. The dedicated investigation team will continue to conduct psychopathy examinations while sending Myung Jae-wan for further proceedings on the same day.
Amid the initial findings indicating he is not a psychopath, the police believe that Myung Jae-wan committed the crime due to accumulated stress and dissatisfaction. Notably, during the police investigation, Myung Jae-wan stated that he purchased the weapon for an extreme choice, but the police determined from searches of the crime tool and the murder case conducted 3 to 5 days before the crime, along with forensic results, that it was a planned act.
The dedicated investigation team reviewed the medical records of Myung Jae-wan over the past seven years but reported that there were no significant records other than depression. He responded calmly during the face-to-face investigation conducted after the execution of the arrest warrant and, like other suspects, was found to have made statements that could be interpreted as apologies or expressions of regret.
The dedicated investigation team applied charges against Myung Jae-wan for violating the Act on the Prevention of Severe Crimes Against Minors (abduction and trafficking of minors under 13). According to Article 5-2 of the Special Act, if a minor under 13 is abducted or trafficked and subsequently murdered, the punishment is either the death penalty or life imprisonment. An official from the police stated, "We applied the Special Act which is more severe than the basic murder charge under the Criminal Act and sent it to the prosecution," adding that "the psychopathy examination will continue even after we send him to the prosecution."