KB News Desk
Prosecutors on Monday sought the death penalty for Jang Yoon-gi, who is on trial for killing a 17-year-old student in Gwangju.
According to the indictment, Jang, 23, tried to abduct Lee Chae-won for sexual assault before fatally stabbing her as she walked home on May 5. He also stabbed and seriously wounded a male high school student who tried to help her. Jang has admitted the charges.
“The defendant sought to satisfy a distorted sexual desire and, in the process, murdered a female high school student he did not know while attempting to kidnap her,” prosecutors said during a hearing at the Gwangju District Court.
Jang faces eight charges, including murder during an attempted rape, attempted murder and preparing to commit murder.
Lee was attacked at 12:11 a.m. on a street in Gwangsan-gu. The male student was wounded after rushing to help when he heard her screams, prosecutors said.
The indictment also accuses Jang of raping a foreign woman in her 20s who had worked with him at a part-time job and secretly filming teenage girls while serving as a social service worker.
Lawyers representing Lee’s family called on the court to impose the harshest possible punishment.
“We ask that Jang Yoon-gi be given a severe sentence, as his crimes have caused immense pain to the bereaved family and shocked the public as a whole,” they said.
Lee’s family also submitted a petition bearing about 50,000 signatures from individuals and organizations calling for Jang to receive the death penalty.
The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict Sept. 30.
