"My son died worse than roadkill"... Family urges severe punishment for Jung Jae-hwan in blood-soaked naked killing

[Financial News] Jung Jae-hwan (24), who is on trial for allegedly killing a friend of 10 years, admitted through his defense team that he committed the acts underlying the charges of murder, assault and theft. However, he denied intent to kill, saying he has no memory of what happened at the time.

The 12th Criminal Division of Daegu District Court held the second hearing in Jung Jae-hwan's trial on the 11th. Jung's attorney said, "We acknowledge the assault charge," but added, "As for the remaining charges of murder, assault and theft, we acknowledge that he committed the acts, but deny that he was aware of or intended to commit the crimes."
The court responded, "As a general principle, we do not conclude that there was no intent simply because the defendant says he does not remember."
Jung Jae-hwan was indicted for allegedly stabbing Friend A dozens of times with a weapon in July at his apartment in Gyeongsan-si, North Gyeongsang Province, killing him while they were drinking together. Immediately afterward, he entered a convenience store near his home naked and covered in blood, drank two cartons of banana milk, and wandered around the area. When he encountered police, he fled to his apartment, where friends who had been with him subdued him and handed him over to the police.
The court accepted Jung Jae-hwan's request for a psychiatric evaluation. The court explained, "A psychiatric evaluation is intended to assess the defendant's mental and physical condition, regardless of whether diminished mental capacity is ultimately recognized," adding, "As a matter of principle, we grant such requests unless they are deemed useless."

However, the victim's attorney submitted a petition arguing that Jung Jae-hwan requested the psychiatric evaluation to obtain a reduced sentence, that the evaluation was unnecessary, and that he did not qualify as having diminished mental capacity. The victim's father was also given an opportunity to speak in court and directly appealed to the judges for severe punishment.
He said, "Although the judge explained it to the spectators in plain language, I cannot take in what is being said," but added, "I will endure and wait, even if I have to turn around and walk away." He continued, "My son was a very ordinary young man. Apart from sending him to the military, I raised him entirely in my arms," and, choking back tears, said, "That son of mine died worse than roadkill."
He said, "No one can know how the bereaved family feels without experiencing it firsthand," adding, "You would know exactly what it feels like if you experienced your own child dying and your grandchild dying." He continued, "He died so horribly that I could not even hold my son's hand. I have to look at a single photograph every day and live like a sinner for the rest of my life," before pleading for severe punishment for Jung Jae-hwan: "Please remove this trash."
[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter