The second trial of medical student Choi Mo (26), who is accused of murdering his 20s girlfriend A near Gangnam Station in Seoul, was held on the 2nd. A, the mother of the victim, appeared as a witness for the prosecution and argued that the 26-year prison sentence imposed in the first trial was too light, requesting a harsher sentence in the second trial.
During the trial, which was conducted by the 7th Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court (Director General Lee Jae-kwon, Park Joo-young, Song Mi-kyung), A's mother, Kim Mo, stated, "I cannot accept Choi's claim that he acted impulsively."
On this day, the prosecution asked Kim, "Considering the circumstances of the crime, it seems more like a calm planned crime rather than a moment of rage. What do you think as a witness?" In response, Kim said, "I believe that (Choi) plannedly killed my daughter to hide his own flaws."
Kim also remarked about the 26-year prison sentence in the first trial, saying, "It is an absurd sentence. I want a much harsher punishment." She continued, "Since the verdict of the first trial, more than 15,000 citizens have submitted petitions for severe punishment," adding, "Choi must never return to society." In the first trial's sentencing hearing held in November last year, the prosecution sought the death penalty for Choi.
Previously, Choi was arrested and indicted on charges of stabbing and murdering his girlfriend A, whom he had been in a relationship with, on the rooftop of a building near Gangnam Station in Seoul on May 6. Following conflicts over their breakup, Choi decided to commit the crime and reportedly prepared the weapon in advance.
Choi is known to be a medical student who received a perfect score on the college entrance exam, but following the incident, Choi's university imposed a disciplinary expulsion on him. Disciplinary expulsion is a severe penalty that prohibits re-enrollment.