By Chung Ah-young
Prosecutors intend to summon Korean-American Edward Lee as a witness in the trial of Arthur Patterson, the suspect in the "Itaewon murder" case which occurred 18 years ago.
Lee was initially indicted for the murder; and Patterson for possession of an illegal weapon. But the Supreme Court acquitted Lee in 1998, citing a lack of evidence.
However, Lee was at the crime scene along with Patterson when Korean college student, Cho Choong-pil, 22, was stabbed to death in the restroom of a Burger King restaurant on April 3, 1997.
Officials at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said Wednesday they have confirmed that Lee has been in Korea for about a month after leaving the United States to visit his father. Prosecutors will ask the Seoul Central District Court to summon him as a witness. The trial will begin today.
Lee's father, whose name was withheld, said in a radio interview that his son would give testimony to rectify the "wrong thing" that has remained unresolved over the last 18 years if the court summons him.
"We've suffered huge distress (over the last 18 years) but Cho's family's grief and pain will be much greater. To resolve this resentment and unfairness, we will do anything we can," he said.
Asked whether Lee can remember details of the incident which happened 18 years ago, the father said that his son cannot forget.
"Even I still remember the records of the trials with some 2,500 pages," he said.
He said that his son is now married and has a son and that he regrets that he was at the crime scene. "He lives with regret," the father said.
Patterson, who was jailed on charges of possessing the weapon and destroying evidence, was released in August 1998.
Prosecutors belatedly reopened the case to indict Patterson as the murder suspect. But he left Korea for California in 1999 after prosecutors failed to renew a travel ban on him.
Prosecutors indicted Patterson on charges of the murder after he was detained in the U.S. in May, 2011, following an extradition request from Korea.
Patterson was extradited to Korea last month, 16 years after fleeing to the United States. He has denied the charges against him.
Prosecutors intend to summon Korean-American Edward Lee as a witness in the trial of Arthur Patterson, the suspect in the "Itaewon murder" case which occurred 18 years ago.
Lee was initially indicted for the murder; and Patterson for possession of an illegal weapon. But the Supreme Court acquitted Lee in 1998, citing a lack of evidence.
However, Lee was at the crime scene along with Patterson when Korean college student, Cho Choong-pil, 22, was stabbed to death in the restroom of a Burger King restaurant on April 3, 1997.
Officials at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office said Wednesday they have confirmed that Lee has been in Korea for about a month after leaving the United States to visit his father. Prosecutors will ask the Seoul Central District Court to summon him as a witness. The trial will begin today.
Lee's father, whose name was withheld, said in a radio interview that his son would give testimony to rectify the "wrong thing" that has remained unresolved over the last 18 years if the court summons him.
"We've suffered huge distress (over the last 18 years) but Cho's family's grief and pain will be much greater. To resolve this resentment and unfairness, we will do anything we can," he said.
Asked whether Lee can remember details of the incident which happened 18 years ago, the father said that his son cannot forget.
"Even I still remember the records of the trials with some 2,500 pages," he said.
He said that his son is now married and has a son and that he regrets that he was at the crime scene. "He lives with regret," the father said.
Patterson, who was jailed on charges of possessing the weapon and destroying evidence, was released in August 1998.
Prosecutors belatedly reopened the case to indict Patterson as the murder suspect. But he left Korea for California in 1999 after prosecutors failed to renew a travel ban on him.
Prosecutors indicted Patterson on charges of the murder after he was detained in the U.S. in May, 2011, following an extradition request from Korea.
Patterson was extradited to Korea last month, 16 years after fleeing to the United States. He has denied the charges against him.
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