Internet cafe murder case sent to prosecution for indictment

Kim Seong-soo, a murder suspect, responds to questions from reporters at Yangcheon Police Station in southwestern Seoul, Wednesday, before being sent to the prosecution for indictment. Kim is accused of killed a part-time worker of an internet cafe over what he claims was improper treatments. / Yonhap

By Jung Hae-myoung

Police sent the case of Kim Seong-soo, 29, who is accused of brutally murdering a part-time worker of an internet cafe, Oct. 14, to the prosecution for further investigation and indictment Wednesday.

However, they stated that Kim's younger brother, who was present and holding the victim during the attack, was not an accomplice to murder but was involved in an initial physical assault.

“I am so sorry to the victim, his family and my family,” Kim said before boarding a police van that took him to the prosecutor's office.

He also claimed it was not wrong of him to tell the worker, who looked “uncomfortable” to clean the cafe, and a verbal altercation that became physical was a result of this.

After this incident, Kim went home and then returned with a knife which he used to stab the worker 32 times in the face and neck after first assaulting him. He was arrested two days later.

The victim's family members claim Kim's brother restrained the victim during the stabbing; however, he has stated that he was trying to stop the attack.

Police concluded Kim used the weapon on the victim after knocking him down, implying the brother was not involved in the murder.

During questioning, Kim claimed he had been suffering from depression for 10 years. If this is recognized by a court as “mental instability,” it could reduce his punishment if found guilty due to the concept of diminished responsibility.

Following the claim, over a million people signed a petition on Cheong Wa Dae's website saying Kim's mental condition could not justify his behavior, and leniency for this and in any other such cases should not be considered.

Kim was examined by the Institute of Forensic Psychiatry under the Ministry of Justice, which concluded he was not suffering from any debilitating psychiatric condition when he was alleged to have committed the crime.