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Thu, November 30, 2023 | 16:32
-------------------------
Itaewon murder suspect found guilty
"이태원 살인 패터슨이 진범"…징역 20년 선고
Posted : 2016-01-29 17:38
Updated : 2016-01-31 10:33
Lee Kyung-min
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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
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.


"이태원 살인 패터슨이 진범"…징역 20년 선고

法 '패터슨이 찔렀다는 공범 진술 신빙성 있다'

22세 한국인 대학생을 이유없이 살해한 '이태원 살인사건'의 진범으로 기소된 아더 존 패터슨(37)에게 법정 상한인 징역 20년형이 선고됐다.

서울중앙지법 형사합의27부(심규홍 부장판사)는 29일 '패터슨이 피해자를 칼로 찌르는 걸 목격했다는 공범 에드워드 리 진술이 신빙성 있다'며 이같이 선고했다.

재판부는 '사건이 일어난 화장실벽에 묻은 혈흔을 보면 가해자는 온몸과 오른손에 상당히 많은 양의 피가 묻었을 것으로 보인다'고 밝혔다.

그러면서 '사건 직후 패터슨은 온몸에 피가 묻어 화장실에서 씻고 옷도 갈아입었지만, 리는 상의에 적은 양의 피가 뿌린 듯 묻어 있었다'며 '리가 피해자를 찔렀다는 패터슨의 진술은 객관적 증거에 부합하지 않는다'고 말했다.

재판부는 리가 '패터슨에게 살인을 부추기고 앞장서서 화장실에 들어갔다'며 그 역시 살인의 공범이라고 인정했다.

그러나 리는 이미 살인 혐의에 대한 무죄 확정 판결을 받아 같은 혐의로는 처벌할 수 없다.

1997년 4월3일 오후 9시50분 17세였던 패터슨과 에드워드 리는 홍익대생 조중필씨가 칼에 찔려 살해된 이태원 햄버거집 화장실에 함께 있었다.

둘 중 한 명이 조씨를 죽인 것은 확실하지만 검찰이 살인범으로 단독기소한 리는 1998년 법원에서 증거불충분을 이유로 최종 무죄를 선고받았다.

흉기소지·증거인멸 혐의로 복역하다 1998년 사면된 패터슨은 검찰이 출국금지 기간을 연장하지 않은 틈을 타 1999년 8월 미국으로 도주했다.

장기 미제 상태였던 이 사건은 2011년 5월 미국에서 패터슨이 체포되고 지난해 9월 도주 16년 만에 국내로 송환되면서 다시 법정으로 돌아왔다.

넉 달의 재판 동안 패터슨은 19년 전과 마찬가지로 현장에 함께 있던 리가 조씨를 찔렀다며 혐의를 전면 부인했다.

패터슨은 선고 직후 얼굴이 다소 붉어진 듯했으나 큰 표정 변화는 없었다. 그는 검사에게 꾸벅 인사를 하고 호송 인력과 함께 법정을 빠져나갔다.

약 2시간 이어진 선고 내내 손수건을 만지작거리던 피해자 조씨의 어머니 이복수씨는 재판부의 '유죄로 판단한다'는 말에 두 손을 바르르 떨었다.  (연합뉴스)
Emaillkm@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
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