Image of a young child. Not related to this article. [Getty Images Bank]
Image of a young child. Not related to this article. [Getty Images Bank]

Prosecutors have sought heavy prison terms for a couple in their 30s who twice attempted to kill their elementary school-age daughter, citing financial hardship and depression as their motive.

According to legal sources, prosecutors at the closing arguments hearing held the previous day before the 12th Criminal Division of Daejeon District Court — presided over by Judge Kim Byeong-man — asked the court to sentence both the husband, identified only as A, and his wife, identified as B, to 12 years in prison each on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes.

"Even though the crimes were not completed, the culpability is grave and the moral blame is severe, given that the parents sought to take the life of their minor child — an independent person with rights who deserves protection," prosecutors said.

They added that the victim was likely to carry lasting psychological wounds for years to come. The nature of the offenses was also troubling, prosecutors said, given that the couple denied the charges during the initial investigation, attempted to destroy evidence, and admitted wrongdoing only after being taken into custody.

The couple was indicted and detained in January on charges of twice attempting to kill their daughter, identified as C, who attends elementary school.

They had attempted to take their own lives along with C, but all three regained consciousness and the attempts did not succeed. The couple also faces charges of neglect for failing to take C to a hospital after she showed abnormal symptoms — including slurred speech — following the incidents.

The following day, C's grandmother noticed something was wrong and called emergency services. C is currently recovering. In his final statement, the husband said, "As a parent, I did something I should never have done to my own child.

I will never make such a wrong choice again," he said, pleading for leniency so that he could "be by my daughter's side, even as an inadequate parent."

His wife also wept, saying, "I am sorry to my child and my family. Please give my family one more chance to live again."

Sentencing is scheduled for July 15.

[단독] 검사의 실수, 증거와 공소장에 적힌 음주운전 날짜가 다르다…대법원 파기환송[세상&]

[단독] 검사의 실수, 증거와 공소장에 적힌 음주운전 날짜가 다르다…대법원 파기환송[세상&]

[헤럴드경제=양근혁 기자] 대법원이 누범기간 중 면허취소 수준의 음주운전을 한 혐의로 재판에 넘겨진 남성에게 징역 1년을 선고한 원심을 깨고 사건을 2심 법원으로 돌려
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