Prosecutors again sought a lengthy prison term on appeal for a woman in her 30s who killed a motorcyclist while driving drunk at high speed with her two young daughters in the car.
At the final appellate hearing held on the 30th before the 1st Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Kang Gil-yeon, prosecutors asked for a 17-year prison sentence for the 38-year-old defendant, identified as A. She faces charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (fleeing the scene of a fatal accident), and child abuse under the Child Welfare Act.
A was indicted on charges of striking a motorcycle ahead of her on a road in Hongseong County, South Chungcheong Province, at about 9:19 p.m. on Jan. 4, while driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.211%, killing the 28-year-old rider, identified as B.
Her vehicle was traveling at 178 kilometers per hour at the time, according to the investigation. She was found to have run a traffic signal while exceeding the speed limit by about 118 kilometers per hour.
She was also charged with leaving the scene without taking necessary steps, such as aiding the victim, immediately after the crash.
Her two daughters, aged 4 and 6, were in the car at the time.
Dashcam footage released in the case captured the children pleading, "I'm scared. Mom, please go slowly."
Prosecutors concluded that the reckless driving and the crash caused the two children extreme fear, treating it as emotional abuse and adding the Child Welfare Act charge.
Investigators also found that after the crash, A instead protested to witnesses at the scene, saying her own children had been frightened.
The lower court found her guilty on all counts and sentenced her to 12 years in prison.
Victim's Parents Demand Harsh Punishment After Losing Only Son
B's family also attended the final appellate hearing and called for a severe sentence.
B's father took the witness stand and said, "Please look closely at how the children reacted in the dashcam footage. This cannot have been the first time the defendant drove drunk and recklessly." He added, "Driving at that speed with children in the car is a suicidal act. I lost my only son, and I cannot settle."
B's mother cried out at the defendant and her lawyer, asking, "Have you ever offered a sincere apology?"
A's side, by contrast, asked the court for leniency, arguing that the sentence handed down by the lower court was too heavy.
Her lawyer said, "The claim of factual error made in the lower court was not because the defendant lacked a sense of responsibility. She was drunk and could not remember what happened, so counsel handled it that way based on counsel's own judgment." The lawyer added, "She was driving at very high speed, so she continued about 100 meters further before stopping and then returned to the scene. She had no intention of fleeing. She also made efforts to reach a settlement."
In her final statement, A said, "This is the most shameful and humiliating moment of my life, and for the rest of my life I will repent and reflect with a desire to atone to the person who died." She added, "My conduct is grave, but please show leniency in consideration of the possibility of rehabilitation. I am deeply sorry to the victim's family and I pray for the repose of the deceased."
