Jeong Jae-hwan is seen at a nearby convenience store covered in blood and naked shortly after the killing (left), alongside a photo released by police. [Victim's family/Police]
Jeong Jae-hwan is seen at a nearby convenience store covered in blood and naked shortly after the killing (left), alongside a photo released by police. [Victim's family/Police]

Jeong Jae-hwan, 24, who is accused of stabbing a close friend dozens of times while the two were drinking together, denied any intent to kill at his trial Friday. The victim's family broke down in grief, saying their son had died in a worse state than an animal struck by a car.

The Daegu District Court's Criminal Division 12, presided over by Judge Jeong Han-geun, held the second hearing Friday in the case against Jeong, who has been indicted on charges including murder.

Jeong's defense attorney acknowledged the charges of murder, assault and theft but argued that Jeong had no intent to kill.

"It is not that the defendant did not kill the deceased — rather, he was so intoxicated that he has no memory whatsoever of what happened," the attorney said. "We deny any awareness of or intent behind the act."

When the presiding judge asked Jeong whether he agreed with his attorney's position, Jeong bowed his head and answered, "Yes."

The court pushed back, saying a lack of memory does not in itself establish an absence of intent. "In the defendant's case, he also took photographs after the act, among other things," the judge said. "We will examine all circumstances surrounding the crime before making a determination."

The attorney for the victim's family said Jeong had requested a psychiatric evaluation to seek a reduced sentence by claiming he was heavily intoxicated. "Even in a state of extreme intoxication, he must have known he was harming another person," the attorney said.

The victim's side had already stated its opposition to any additional psychiatric evaluation, arguing that relevant assessments had been conducted during the investigation phase and that further evaluation could prolong the trial.

The court said it would decide whether a psychiatric evaluation was necessary, noting that examining the defendant's mental state was an important matter independent of whether diminished capacity would ultimately be recognized.

As Jeong denied intent, the victim's family appealed to the court for the harshest possible punishment.

The victim's father, fighting back tears, said his son — whom he had raised himself except during the young man's military service — had died in a worse state than an animal struck by a car. "He died so horribly that I could not even hold his hand," he said. "I have to live the rest of my life like a criminal, looking at a single photograph every day. Please remove the trash."

Jeong was indicted on charges of beating his friend, identified only as A, 24, and stabbing him approximately 40 times with a weapon at an apartment in Hayang-eup, Gyeongsan, North Gyeongsang Province, at around 3:40 a.m. on July 4, killing him. Jeong also faces charges of assaulting another friend who was present at the same gathering.

Immediately after the killing, Jeong walked into a nearby convenience store naked and covered in blood, drank a banana-flavored milk, wandered the streets and then returned home, where police arrested him.


yeonjoo7@heraldcorp.com