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| A woman walks past photos of Jung-in, a 16-month-old baby girl who was killed in 2020 as a result of abuse by her adoptive mother, near the Seoul District Prosecutors' Office in Seoul, April 28. The Supreme Court confirmed a 35-year prison sentence for the woman, Thursday. Yonhap |
The Supreme Court confirmed Thursday a 35-year prison sentence for a woman found guilty of murdering her adopted toddler through consistent abuse two years ago in one of the country's most ghastly child abuse cases in recent years.
The mother, surnamed Jang, was indicted on murder charges for the death by abuse of the then 16-month-old adopted daughter, Jung-in, in October 2020 and was sentenced to life in prison by a district court and subsequently 35 years in prison by an appeals court.
The top court also confirmed a five-year prison term for the husband, surnamed Ahn, who was indicted on child abuse charges for aiding and abetting Jang's violence toward the adopted baby.
The child, adopted in February of 2020, died of severe abdominal injuries and internal bleeding that were caused by "strong external force," according to an official autopsy.
Investigation records showed Jung-in had been habitually beaten for five months prior to her tragic death, with fractured bones and bruises found on her body.
The mother was initially indicted on lesser charges of child abuse resulting in death. But prosecutors later added a murder charge, based on forensic results, and had sought capital punishment for the adoptive mother.
She admitted to having abused the child but claimed the death was an accident.
The case caused nationwide grief and anger over the child abuse death. Throngs of people sent petitions to the court and held picketing campaigns to demand heavy punishment for the parents. (Yonhap)
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