A mother who was sentenced to life in prison at the first trial for repeatedly abusing her 4-month-old son and causing his death had her sentence reduced to 35 years in prison on appeal.
The Gwangju High Court Criminal Division 2 on the 25th sentenced a person in their 30s, identified as A, to 35 years in prison in an appeal over charges including child abuse-murder under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes. The court said it was difficult to view the crime as meticulously premeditated and overturned the lower court's life sentence.
A is accused of brutally assaulting a 4-month-old son, "Haedeun" (alias), at a home in Yeosu, South Jeolla, on Oct. 22 last year and then leaving the child in a bathtub with the water running, causing his death.
An investigation found that from Aug. 24 of the same year over roughly two months, A abused the child a total of 19 times. The deceased child's body showed multiple bruises and fractures, organ hemorrhaging, and about 500 cc of bleeding was found in the abdominal cavity.
The husband, who was tried alongside A on charges of neglecting the abuse, received the same sentence as at the first trial: 4 years and 6 months in prison. The husband is also accused of threatening to file a complaint against a witness in the case.
The case became known as the "Haedeun case" after SBS's "Unanswered Questions" in March released portions of home camera footage that captured scenes of abuse.