Two suspects accused of beating film director Kim Chang-min to death appeared for a pretrial detention hearing on the warrant on the 4th.
Ahead of the warrant hearing at the Namyangju branch of the Uijeongbu District Court, a suspect surnamed Lee (31) and a suspect surnamed Lim (31), both accused of injury resulting in death, appeared. Asked by reporters, "Do you have anything to say to the bereaved family?," they entered the court without a word.
A dedicated investigation team at the Namyangju branch of the Uijeongbu District Prosecutors' Office sought arrest warrants for Lee and Lim on the 28th. They are accused of beating Director Kim repeatedly around 1 a.m. on Oct. 20 last year in front of a restaurant in Guri, Gyeonggi, during a dispute over noise, causing his death.
After being assaulted, Director Kim lost consciousness and was taken to a hospital by 119 paramedics but never woke up, was declared brain-dead 17 days later, donated organs to four people, and died.
Police had twice sought arrest warrants for the suspects earlier, but the requests were rejected on grounds including "no risk of flight." A decision on whether to issue the warrants is expected in the afternoon.