[Breaking] Kim So-young, convicted in the 'Gangbuk motel murder' case, sentenced to life in prison at first trial

[Financial News] Kim So-young, 20, who was brought to trial on charges of giving men drinks laced with drugs at motels in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, causing some to die or suffer injuries, has been sentenced to life in prison. The court found her guilty of murder with dolus eventualis, citing, among other things, that she had already recognized the dangers of mixing sleeping pills with alcohol through searches on ChatGPT.
According to legal sources on the 27th, the 14th Criminal Division of the Seoul Northern District Court, presided over by Judge Oh Byung-hee, sentenced Kim to life in prison and ordered her to wear an electronic tracking device for 30 years. However, she was acquitted of some charges of aggravated assault due to insufficient evidence.
The court rejected the defense's argument that she had only administered the drugs for self-defense and had no intent to kill. The panel said, "The defendant gradually became aware of the risk of death from drug use by searching ChatGPT about the dangers of taking sleeping pills in excess and combining them with alcohol," and added, "Because she could have fully foreseen the possibility that the victims would die, murder by dolus eventualis is established."
The court also dismissed the defendant's claim that she acted out of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from past sexual violence and for self-defense. It said, "Medical opinions did not show PTSD symptoms, and there is no evidence suggesting that the male victims attempted inappropriate sexual contact or rape," drawing a clear line under the alleged motive. The court explained, "The main motive appears to have been financial gain, mixed with hostility toward men, an avoidance tendency, and poor judgment."
On sentencing, the court said, "The defendant has shown no remorse for the crime, and the surviving victim is calling for the harshest punishment, making severe punishment unavoidable." It added, "Taking into account her difficult upbringing, including childhood abuse by her father, bullying, and low intelligence, as well as the fact that she committed the crime with dolus eventualis rather than direct intent, we sentence her to life in prison, permanently separating her from society."
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