A middle school student, who killed his adoptive mother who raised him for 15 years, will face a citizen participation trial.
The 11th Criminal Division of the Gwangju District Court (Director General Kim Song-hyun) held a citizen participation trial on the 8th for a 15-year-old boy, identified as Kim, who was indicted on murder charges.
Kim is accused of assaulting his adoptive mother, identified as A, 64, and strangling her to death at their home in Imhoe-myeon, Jindo-gun, South Jeolla Province, around 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 29.
According to the prosecution, A raised Kim, who was abandoned in an alley in September 2010, like her own child without going through the adoption process. On the day of the incident, Kim became enraged after being verbally and physically abused by A, who called him "a worthless person," leading to the crime.
The defense attorney for Kim acknowledged all of the charges but claimed that Kim suffered repeated mental and physical abuse during his upbringing. Kim also submitted a letter of remorse to the court, stating, "I lost the person I love the most with my own hands."
Citizen participation trials are criminal trials in which ordinary citizens serve as jurors to review the appropriateness of the sentence. Although jurors' verdicts do not have legal binding force, they hold advisory power. The court is expected to determine the appropriate sentencing based on the jury's verdict.