[Sportschosun, Reporter Park A-ram] Two men in their 30s who were indicted on charges of assaulting and killing the late film director Kim Chang-min denied murder charges at their first trial.
The Criminal Division 1 of the Namyangju Branch of Uijeongbu District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Kim Guksik, held the first hearing on the 18th for Lee and Lim, who were indicted and detained on charges of murder and violating the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities.
Prosecutors believe the two men argued with the late director at a restaurant in Guri-si, Gyeonggi Province, last October, then took him into an alley and carried out a group assault that led to his death. They also charged them with violating the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, saying that they forced Kim Chang-min's developmentally disabled son, who was at the scene, to witness the beating and caused him emotional harm.
The defense, however, said it could not accept the murder charges. The lawyers stated, "We admit to some of the assault, but we had no intent to kill the victim," and argued, "We could not have foreseen the possibility of death."
They also pushed back on the charge of violating the Act on Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, saying, "We did not know that the victim's son had a disability, and we were not aware that he was witnessing the situation at the time."
The key issue in this trial is expected to be whether the defendants had intent to kill. Police initially sent the case to prosecutors on charges of causing death by injury, but prosecutors conducted additional investigations, reviewed the circumstances of the assault and related materials, and then indicted the men on murder charges.
Kim Chang-min lost consciousness shortly after the incident and was taken to a hospital, but he never recovered. He was later declared brain-dead and died after donating his organs, giving new life to four people.
Kim Chang-min's father, who attended the trial that day, met with reporters after the hearing and expressed regret over the defendants' claims. He said, "I cannot understand their denial of the charges," adding, "I plan to consult with my legal representative and review our response."
Meanwhile, the court said it will question witnesses who were at the scene at the time of the incident, and the next hearing is scheduled for July 9.
tokkig@sportschosun.com
