Defendants in ”Korean Valley Murder” sentenced to one year in prison for aiding and abetting the perpetrator's escape

In connection with the valley murder case that took place in South Korea, defendants Lee Eun Hye (32, female) and Cho Hyun Soo (31, male), who were additionally indicted on charges of aiding and abetting the refuge of a fugitive, were also sentenced to prison in the appeal court.
At the appeal hearing held on the 23rd, the Incheon District Court's Criminal Appeals Division 4 sentenced both defendants, who were indicted on charges of aiding and abetting the refusal of a fugitive, to one year in prison each, the same as in the first trial.
"The court claims that defendants Lee and Cho fled on their own and exercised their right to defense, but living on the run for over 120 days is not common. They abused their right to defense," the judge said.
He went on to state, "The decision of the original court was justified. We do not accept the arguments of the prosecutor and defendant that the original sentence was unjust."
Defendants Lee and Cho disappeared in December 2021 ahead of their investigation by the prosecution as suspects in the "Valley Murder" case.
He was put on trial for allegedly asking two acquaintances to help him escape after he had taken out the body of the woman. Prior to this, the first and second trials had given Lee life imprisonment and Cho 30 years imprisonment for the murder charges.
The two have since appealed and are awaiting the Supreme Court's final ruling.