At the trial of Jo Jaebok, 26, who was indicted on charges of beating his mother-in-law to death and dumping the body in a travel bag, the victim's daughter and the defendant's wife took the stand and described what happened during the crime.
Jo Jaebok's wife claimed that her husband's assaults, surveillance, and financial control began after they registered their marriage. She also testified in court that her mother died after prolonged assaults on the day of the crime.
On July 2, at the Daegu District Court's 13th Criminal Division (Chief Judge Chae Hee-in), where Jo Jaebok was on trial for killing a lineal ascendant and abandoning a body, his wife, a person surnamed Choi, 26, appeared as a witness.
Considering that Choi's private life and details of the victimization were included, the court conducted the witness examination behind closed doors starting at 10:15 a.m. The examination was attended by Choi's father, as a trusted attendant, and officials from women's and disability rights groups.
During her testimony, Choi consistently referred to her husband, Jo Jaebok, as "the man." Choi said, "After we registered our marriage, (Jo Jaebok) began to use violence and curse," and added, "When we lived in Gyeongsan, he hit only me and did not hit my mother, but after we moved to Daegu, he assaulted her."
She went on, "He assaulted us over everyday issues, such as not cleaning properly or spilling food, and he also said he would kill us if I didn't bring him money," adding, "He watched me with a home camera installed in the house so I couldn't run away."
Choi testified that her mother's condition deteriorated rapidly due to assaults that continued from Mar. 17. She said, "The man beat my mother, and her condition worsened to the point she could not walk on her own and could not speak properly," and added, "He dragged my mother into the bathroom and assaulted her, and afterward her consciousness grew dim."
She continued, "I was so worried I checked whether my mother was breathing, but I didn't report it because (Jo Jaebok) might be asked at the hospital who did the beating," and claimed, "He struck her thousands of times, far longer and more severely than usual."
When the presiding judge asked, "Are you saying there were thousands of blows, as strong as an adult man hitting someone hard?" Choi replied, "Yes. He hit really hard."
In her final statement, Choi said, "I hope the man gets life imprisonment, and I want to get divorced quickly."
Prosecutors submitted additional evidence that day, including the victim's autopsy findings, indications that Jo Jaebok used bank accounts in the names of the victim and his wife, and materials related to loans and the opening of mobile phone service. The prosecutor said, "The defendant forced his mother-in-law to borrow money from acquaintances," adding, "The motive for the crime is linked to financial reasons."
In response, Jo Jaebok argued, "I used the bankbooks of my mother-in-law and my wife with their permission," and said, "She told me to use a mobile phone in my mother-in-law's name, so I opened the line, and I also paid the expense."
Meanwhile, Jo Jaebok was arrested and indicted on charges of fatally assaulting his mother-in-law, identified as A, over a long period in a studio-style officetel in Jung-gu, Daegu, in March, then putting the body in a CARRY and discarding it along the Sincheon stream in Chilseong-dong, Buk-gu, Daegu. A was 54 at the time of death.
He is also charged with cruel acts, including assault, surveillance, and financial control, against his wife and mother-in-law.