A 10-year prison sentence was finalized for a father in his 30s who beat his 2-month-old son to death.
The Supreme Court's First Division (presiding Justice Seo Kyung-hwan) said on the 3rd that it finalized a lower court ruling that sentenced A, 31, indicted on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes (child abuse resulting in death), to 10 years in prison on July 16.
A's wife, B, 33, was also brought to trial on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act (child abandonment and neglect). The Supreme Court finalized the lower court ruling sentencing B to two years in prison, suspended for three years.
A's 2-month-old son, C, died of head trauma and purulent meningitis on July 25, 2023, while receiving treatment at a hospital. C was born premature and was admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit, then was discharged on July 5 and moved to the parents' home.
Since June, B had gotten a job at an online shopping mall call center and worked from home in a small room, handling consultations or receiving training. While solely caring for the child, A experienced considerable stress because C often cried or fussed. From July 10 to 20, in the master bedroom at home, A repeatedly struck C's head and face and used body weight to press down or grabbed and twisted him, saying it was because the child cried and fussed.
B was brought to trial on charges of neglect for failing to intervene or take protective measures, such as separating C, despite knowing about the husband's abuse.
In the first trial, A was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and B was sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for three years. As reasons for sentencing B, the court explained that she had a child in need of protection, that due to economic circumstances she had no choice but to leave C entirely in her husband's care while working from home, and that she appeared to have protested the abusive conduct.
The second trial imposed the same sentences as the first. The appellate panel said, "From the investigative stage to the court, the defendants have maintained unconvincing excuses and have not shown a repentant attitude."
A and the spouse appealed, but the Supreme Court rejected the appeal, finding no error in the lower court's judgment.