Jo Jae-bok [Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency]
Jo Jae-bok [Daegu Metropolitan Police Agency]

Jo Jae-bok, tried on charges of beating his mother-in-law to death and abandoning her body in a suitcase, was sentenced to 45 years in prison Thursday.

The 13th Criminal Division of the Daegu District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Chae Hui-in, handed down the sentence against Jo, who had been indicted and detained on charges including the killing of a lineal ascendant, Yonhap said.

"Killing a lineal ascendant is a crime that violates the right to life — an absolute value enshrined in the Constitution — and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances," the court said. "Such a killing is not merely a violation of one person's life but an anti-human crime that betrays the bonds of trust within the family and community."

The court said Jo "repeatedly assaulted his mother-in-law, with whom he lived, unable to control his anger, causing her health to deteriorate rapidly." On the day of her death, Wednesday, "the victim could not say a word due to the defendant's assault and could only draw an 'X' with her hand; her eyes and legs hurt so badly that she could neither sleep properly nor eat," the court said.

The court also said that, contrary to Jo's claims, "the defendant brought the victim — his mother-in-law — to live with him not to support her but to exploit her financially," and that "after the victim died, he placed her body in a suitcase and abandoned it, and has shown no remorse, including by exchanging messages with another woman."

The cause of death was determined to be multiple injuries across the entire body.

Investigators found that prolonged, high-intensity beatings had fractured all of the ribs on both sides and caused damage and ruptures throughout the body, including the skull, chest, abdomen and legs.

As Chief Judge Chae read out the criminal facts recorded in the ruling, Jo audibly sighed, prompting Chae to say, "Defendant, just listen."

Prosecutors had sought a life sentence for Jo at the final hearing on Sept. 17.

Jo was indicted and detained on charges of beating his mother-in-law, identified only by her surname A, who was 54 at the time of her death, for an extended period at an officetel studio apartment in Jung-gu, Daegu, on March 18, causing her death, and then placing her body in a suitcase and abandoning it along the Sincheon riverside in Buk-gu.

Jo also faces charges — including aggravated confinement causing bodily harm — of subjecting his wife and mother-in-law to assault, surveillance and financial control.

Jo denied intent to kill at first hearing

At his first trial on May 21, Jo denied any intent to kill.

"I never thought beating her would kill her," Jo said at the first hearing. "I truly did not know my mother-in-law would die. I had no intention of killing her. I am sorry."

Jo said he learned of her death when "my wife told me it seemed like her mother wasn't breathing," adding that he had attempted CPR. "I did not think that beating her to that extent would kill a person," he said.

However, Jo's defense attorney said the defense acknowledged "the charges of dolus eventualis in the killing of a lineal ascendant and the abandonment of the body," at which point the court re-confirmed Jo's position and noted that he was denying the murder charge.

Jo had also submitted a written statement of remorse saying he had absolutely no intention of killing his mother-in-law.

At a hearing on July 2, the victim's daughter — and Jo's wife — took the stand as a witness and testified that "the man (her husband) beat my mother thousands of times."

Jo's wife, identified only by her surname Choi, referred to her husband throughout her testimony only as "the man."

Choi testified that Jo "began using violence and verbal abuse after we registered our marriage," and that while they lived in Gyeongsan he only beat her and not her mother, but began assaulting her mother after the family moved to Daegu.

Choi said Jo "assaulted us over everyday matters such as not cleaning properly or spilling food, and told us he would kill us if we did not bring him money," adding that he "monitored us through a home camera installed in the house to prevent us from escaping."

In her final statement, Choi said, "I hope the man receives a life sentence, and I want to get a divorce as soon as possible."


yul@heraldcorp.com