At the first trial, the head of a residential facility for people with severe developmental disabilities, who was indicted on charges of committing sexual violence and assault against residents, denied the charges. The defense challenged the credibility of the victims' statements and the admissibility of the interview records as evidence, and also requested an on-site inspection.
The Seoul Central District Court Criminal Agreement Division 29 (Presiding Judge Eom Gi-pyo, senior judge) held the first court hearing on the 24th for a person surnamed Kim, who was indicted on charges including violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (rape resulting in injury).
Kim was brought to trial on charges of raping three residents of Saekdongwon, a residential facility for people with severe developmental disabilities in Gilsang-myeon, Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, and repeatedly hitting another resident with a drumstick. Prosecutors also included in the indictment circumstances that the victim was injured by a glass cup while trying to stop the attempted sexual assault.
Kim's side denied all the sexual violence charges. The attorney argued that it was hard to accept the victims' statements as they were, saying there were times when Kim was not at Saekdongwon during the time frames specified in the indictment as the times of the crimes. The defense also countered that, given the facility's layout and the characteristics of the residents' daily lives, it would have been difficult for the defendant to contact the victims and commit the crimes.
The defense also raised issues with the investigative process. Arguing that the victims' statements were made amid repetitive questioning and leading prompts, the defense said the related interview records could not be admitted as evidence.
In addition, Kim's side requested an on-site inspection, saying it was necessary to verify whether what the victims described was possible given the actual layout. The court accepted the request, finding it appropriate to proceed with full-fledged hearings, including witness examinations, after directly checking the site.
The court decided to conduct the on-site inspection at Saekdongwon at 2:10 p.m. on the 15th of next month. It plans to hold the second hearing at 2:10 p.m. on the 22nd of the same month, during which it will play the victims' recorded statements and examine expert witnesses.