[Herald DB]
[Herald DB]

A man charged with committing a sex crime against his wife's friend is set to have his case decided by a citizen jury.

According to legal sources, the Busan District Court's Criminal Division 5, presided over by Judge Kim Hyun-soon, will hold a citizen jury trial for the defendant, identified only as A, on July 10. A faces charges of quasi-similar rape.

A is accused of touching the body of B, a friend of his wife, at his Busan residence on the morning of March 27 last year.

B had been drinking with A's wife, identified as C, near Gwangalli Beach and later went to the couple's home at C's invitation, where she continued drinking before falling asleep. A allegedly committed the crime at that point.

A has denied all charges. The jury trial is being held at his request.

The trial will center on the question of A's guilt or innocence. Nine citizen jurors, one alternate juror and five shadow jurors will participate on the day.

The jurors will deliver a verdict on guilt or innocence and offer sentencing recommendations. Their decision carries no legal binding force, but the court takes it into account in its ruling.

Meanwhile, statistics from the Court Administration Office show that the acquittal rate in sex crime cases tried before citizen juries between 2020 and 2024 stood at around 45 percent — far exceeding the 3 to 4 percent acquittal rate in ordinary criminal trials.


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