Yeouido knife attacker requests jury trial

By Kim Bo-eun

A 30-year-old man indicted for a stabbing rampage in Yeouido last August has requested a jury trial, his lawyer said Friday.

The man, surnamed Kim, attacked two former colleagues as well as wounded two passers-by on a street on Aug. 22. He was indicted on Sept. 17. The injuries weren’t life threatening.

“We want to let citizens know about the brutalities the defendant went through during his childhood, as well as the fact that he was treated like an outcast at his former workplace, which resulted in depression,” Kim’s lawyer said in a pretrial hearing.

The lawyer stated that his client was suffering from depression when he committed the crime.

He said Kim needs treatment because at the time the offense was committed, not only had he been depressed but had also not been eating or sleeping.

When asked about why he had sharpened knives at home, Kim was quoted as saying “I didn’t do so with the intention of hurting anyone. I just needed an outlet to relieve my stress.”

During the hearing, Kim seemed to be nervous, as he hung his head throughout and had his fists clenched.

A verdict is expected on Jan. 24 next year.

The jury system debuted in February 2008 to boost public confidence in the legal system by allowing citizens to participate in trials.

Witnesses the lawyer will call include a former colleague of Kim who had suggested that he get treatment for his depression and a detective from the Yeongdeungpo Police Station who testified that he smelled alcohol on Kim when he was being questioned.

Kim could not remember whether he had drunk before he committed the offenses, the lawyer said.