The bereaved family of a victim in the "Gangbuk motel serial murder case" on the 4th criticized police for a second straight day, saying "additional harm occurred because the initial investigation was inadequate."
The bereaved family of A, the second murder victim in the case, said this on the 3rd through their legal representative, attorney Nam Eon-ho.
Attorney Nam said, "Police received an assault complaint on Jan. 9, and the first death occurred at a motel in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, on Jan. 28," and added, "By early February at the latest, police had identified Kim as a prime suspect through closed-circuit (CC)TV analysis, but did not arrest immediately, saying they needed more evidence."
He continued, "The second death occurred on the afternoon of Feb. 9, the very day the suspect was scheduled to be questioned," adding, "Police even postponed the suspect interview, and someone who didn't have to die ended up dying."
Earlier, police said at a media briefing that they confirmed the suspect's movements and personal details around the 6th of last month through CCTV analysis. They also said that on the same day they found in the criminal justice system that the name filed on the first victim's complaint matched the suspect's name in the motel death case.
The bereaved family also took issue with the police response after the death. Attorney Nam said the family first learned it was homicide from news reports. "When the death occurred and they appeared before police, they were not told whether it was homicide or an unexplained death," he said, adding, "The next day, police called and said, 'A news article may come out. You may be surprised,' leaving only cryptic words."
Nam also argued that a finding of psychopathy does not necessarily have to be recognized as a mitigating factor. He said, "We have reviewed the psychopathy test results," but noted, "What we must be clear about is that receiving mitigation for diminished capacity based on psychopathy results is a separate matter."
The Seoul Gangbuk Police Station sent Kim to prosecutors on the 19th of last month on charges of murder, aggravated assault and violating the Narcotics Control Act. Kim is accused of handing beverages laced with drugs to three men in their 20s at motels and elsewhere around Gangbuk-gu on three occasions—Dec. 14 last year, Jan. 28 and Feb. 9—killing two and injuring one.
Kim was referred to prosecutors in custody on the 19th on charges of murder, aggravated assault and violating the Narcotics Control Act. Police on the day released an analysis of the psychopathy diagnostic test (PCL-R) conducted on Kim, saying it "corresponds to psychopathy." Police sent the test results to prosecutors.