A life sentence has been finalized for Myeong Jae-wan, 49, who, while employed as a teacher at an elementary school in Daejeon, stabbed and killed a first-grade student with a weapon.
The Supreme Court's First Division (Presiding Justice Seo Kyung-hwan) on the 2nd upheld the lower court ruling that sentenced Myeong Jae-wan to life imprisonment on charges including violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes (abduction for profit and luring, etc.), damaging public property, and assault.
At about 5 p.m. on Feb. 10 last year, at the elementary school where he worked, Myeong lured first-grader Kim Ha-neul, who was on her way home after finishing an after-school care class, into the audiovisual room by saying he would "give a book," then stabbed and killed her with a weapon he had prepared in advance.
Myeong prepared for the crime in advance, including searches such as "how to kill a person" and "medical student murder case." Before the crime, he also kicked and damaged a school work computer and assaulted a fellow teacher.
During the trial, Myeong admitted to the crime but argued for a reduced sentence, saying he was in a state of diminished capacity due to a mental disorder. Prosecutors sought the death penalty, saying Myeong was not in a state of diminished capacity and fully foresaw the meaning and consequences of the crime.
The first trial sentenced Myeong to life imprisonment. The first-instance court acknowledged that Myeong was in a partially abnormal psychological state but determined it was difficult to find circumstances warranting consideration.
The second trial also maintained the life sentence. The appellate court said, "Even if there was diminished capacity, given the gravity of this case, there is no reason to reduce the sentence."
With the Supreme Court ruling, the 30-year order to attach a location-tracking electronic device was also maintained.