``Mountain trail rape and murder'' defendant denies murder at first trial...``I just wanted to knock her out'' = South Korea

Choi Yoon-jeong (30), who is on trial for indiscriminately assaulting a woman with his knuckles on a mountain trail in Sinrim-dong, and then strangling her to death when she resisted strongly, makes her first appearance in court.
At trial, he claimed that he had no intention of murder. The case was held at the Seoul Central District Court on the 25th on charges including violation of the Special Act on Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (rape, murder, etc.)
The first trial was held for defendant Choi. On the 17th of last month, Choi sexually assaulted a female victim on a mountain trail that connects to Gwanaksan Ecological Park in Shinrim-dong, Gwanak-gu, Seoul.
He is accused of indiscriminately assaulting her with a hand with iron knuckles and strangling her to death in order to protect her. The attempted sexual assault ended in failure.
According to prosecutors, Choi was serving in the military in 2015 when he deserted the military and took firearms with him.
He was judged unfit for active duty and was transferred early. After that, Choi, who had no particular economic activity, developed feelings of misogyny and a desire to have sexual relations, and in April of this year, he sexually assaulted an unspecified woman.
He bought two knuckles for the purpose of assault. Prosecutors say the crime was carried out in a planned manner after that, by searching around the area and identifying blind spots where there were no CCTV cameras.
is. Although Choi acknowledged the general content of the prosecution case, he denied the intentionality of the murder. Defendant Choi said, ``I agree overall (with the facts of the prosecution's case), but I don't like the details.
``I did not intend to kill her, but since (the victim) resisted so strongly, I tried to just knock her out, but the damage caused was greater.''
Today's defendant, Choi, appeared at trial with an attitude of no remorse. Correctional authorities judge that there is a high possibility of sudden behavior, and with the permission of the presiding judge,
Defendant Choi, who was locked in the defendant's chair, answered the presiding judge's questions while sitting diagonally in his chair. When the presiding judge asked, ``Do you have any intention of holding a public participation trial?'', defendant Choi replied, ``It would be better.
mosquito? Some answers were playful, such as "I don't do that." When the prosecutor was explaining the facts of the case, he tilted his head and touched the handcuffs.
The presiding judge also pointed out the lack of sincerity in trial preparation by Choi's public defender. Usually, the defense attorney meets with the defendant and reviews the records before the first trial.
Basic preparations must be made, such as reading and copying records, but Choi's lawyer did not meet Choi or read or copy the records. Regarding this, the presiding judge said, ``This case is
The legal penalty is the death penalty or life imprisonment,'' and pointed out, ``Given the importance and severity of the case, the defendant's right to defense needs to be fully guaranteed.''
The next court hearing will be held on the morning of the 13th of next month.