"I assaulted him, but had no intent to kill" – Perpetrators in the death of director Kim Chang-min deny all charges

*This content was translated by AI.

Two perpetrators who assaulted the late film director Kim Chang-min, leading to his death, denied the murder charges during their first trial.

According to NEWS1 on the 18th, the First Criminal Division of the Namyangju Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Guk-sik) held the first trial for 30-year-old men A and B, who were prosecuted on charges of murder and violation of the Disability Welfare Act.

Both A and B entered the courtroom wearing sky-blue prison uniforms and told the court, when asked about their desire for a jury trial, that they did not wish for one.

The Prosecution Service stated, "The defendants conspired to commit the crime and killed the victim," and added, "They also caused mental harm to the victim's severely disabled son, who witnessed the assault."

However, the defense team for the defendants denied all charges. A's lawyer said, "While it is true that the victim was injured, we did not foresee the possibility of death resulting from the assault, nor was there any intent to kill. There was no conspiracy."

B's lawyer also argued, "We cannot accept the charge that the defendants conspired to commit murder together," and further stated, "At the time of the crime, we were unaware of the victim's son's presence or his disability, so we cannot accept the charge of violating the Disability Welfare Act."

When the court asked the defendants if they shared the same stance as their lawyers, the defendants replied, "Yes."

The lawyers for the perpetrators applied to call three witnesses, including the owner and staff of the restaurant where the incident occurred. This was done with the aim of proving, through witness testimony, that there was no intent to kill and no conspiracy.

Kim Chang-min's father, Kim Sang-cheol, also sat in the gallery and listened to the statements from the Prosecution Service and the defense. Shortly after the trial, Kim met with reporters and said, "It is quite regrettable that they deny the charges," and pointed out, "The defendants are showing no sign of any intention to apologize to the victim."

Previously, on October 20 last year around 1 a.m., A and B were brought to trial on charges of assaulting and killing director Kim Chang-min, who was with his developmentally disabled son, at a restaurant in Guri, Gyeonggi Province.

Director Kim was transferred to a hospital about an hour after the incident occurred but passed away on November 7 of the same year after being declared brain dead and donating his organs.

The next trial is scheduled to be held on July 9.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.