Prosecutors demand death penalty for teacher in murder of student

This photo provided by the Daejeon Metropolitan Police shows Myeong Jae-wan, a teacher accused of murdering a student inside a classroom. Yonhap

Prosecutors on Monday demanded the death penalty for a teacher accused of stabbing an 8-year-old student to death.

Myeong Jae-wan, 48, is charged with brutally killing the girl, Kim Ha-neul, inside a classroom at their elementary school in the central city of Daejeon on Feb. 10.

Prosecutors sought the death penalty during Myeong's trial at the Daejeon District Court, saying Kim's parents wish for a heavy punishment and the defendant has shown "no signs of remorse" throughout the investigation.

Myeong said in her final statement that she deeply apologizes to the bereaved family.

"I apologize that a senseless act was taken by a teacher at a school where it should be safest," she said. "My judgment had weakened while receiving mental treatment, and I will reflect on my wrongdoing for as a long as I live."

Prosecutors earlier described the case as an "abnormal motive crime" in which Myeong sought to resolve her anger over family troubles and maladjustment at work by brutally murdering a target weaker than herself.

A psychiatric evaluation conducted at Myeong's request found that she was in a state of mental and physical weakness at the time of the killing.

The prosecution disputed the finding, however, noting she returned early from leave last December upon obtaining a doctor's note that her symptoms of depression had nearly gone.

The court scheduled her sentencing hearing for Oct. 20.