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| Arthur John Patterson, left, was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison for stabbing to death Korean student Cho Joong-pil at a Burger King restaurant in 1997. Lee Bok-su, the mother of Cho, a victim of the "Itaewon murder," speaks at the Seoul Central District Court after it found Patterson guilty of the crime. / Yonhap |
Patterson sentenced to 20 years
By Lee Kyung-min
A district court sentenced Arthur John Patterson, a U.S. citizen, to 20 years in prison Friday after finding him guilty of the stabbing death of Korean student Cho Joong-pil at a Burger King restaurant in 1997.
The Seoul Central District Court found him guilty of the killing, known as the "Itaewon murder" case here, and said Edward Kun Lee, who was initially indicted but later acquitted, was complicit in the crime.
However, Lee will not face any punishment due to double jeopardy. The victim, Patterson and Lee were the only three people present at the murder scene.
While Patterson and Lee accused each other over the stabbing since the initial investigation, the court determined that Lee's consistent testimony was more credible than that of Patterson.
Patterson changed his testimony during court-organized reconstructions.
"Given the small size of the bathroom, it is highly unlikely that the two could have switched sides to take turns stabbing. With the two constantly accusing each other, it is obvious that one of the two is lying," presiding Judge Shim Gyu-hong said.
"While Lee only had a small amount of blood on his head and shirt, Patterson's head and clothes were covered with a large amount of blood that he was unlikely to have gotten elsewhere," the judge said.
Given that the attacker stabbed the victim nine times in less than 10 seconds, it would have been impossible for that attacker not to be covered with a large amount of blood, according to the ruling.
Immediately after the incident, while Lee left without washing his hands, Patterson, who was covered with a lot of blood, changed his clothes first before leaving the restaurant, it said.
Patterson's lawyer said he will appeal.
Judge Shim also accepted statements provided by Lee as well as their friends who were present at the day of the murder, while dismissing those by Patterson.
"The witnesses' testimonies we have heard all consistently point to Patterson as the one who stabbed the victim," he said.
The judge said harsh punishment was inevitable considering the brutal nature of his crime as well as Patterson's failure to show remorse.
"Patterson killed the victim who was a complete stranger for fun. Such an act had resulted in irrevocable suffering for the victim's family," Shim said.
"The then 22-year-old college student Cho was deprived of happiness and all positive aspects of life that he was entitled to enjoy as a human."
The judge added that Patterson made no effort to provide any compensation or restitution, and had accused Lee since the day of the murder.
After the ruling, the victim's mother Lee Bok-su heaved a heavy sigh. "I think my son will better rest in the ground," she told reporters in front of the courthouse.
The court said his indictment has relevant legal standing, because the 15-year statute of limitations on murder has not expired, and the rule of double jeopardy does not apply in the case. The court also dismissed Patterson's claim that the prosecution was abusing its authority in bringing the indictment, saying although it failed to seek additional written testimony from Patterson, it succeeded in collecting fresh evidence before the indictment.
The prosecution indicted Patterson on Dec. 22, 2011, less than 15 years after the day of the incident on April 3 1997.
Earlier, Patterson had received an 18-month term on charges of destroying evidence and possessing a dangerous weapon.
Lee was found guilty but later freed in a special amnesty.
In 2011, prosecutors charged Patterson with murder, citing fresh evidence. His trial started in September last year following his extradition here from the U.S.
