Photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]
Photo is unrelated to the article. [Getty Images Bank]

New details of severe abuse have emerged during the trial of a couple in their 20s charged with child abuse homicide after their six-month-old infant died from neglect.

During a defendant examination session at Daejeon District Court's 13th Criminal Division, presided over by Chief Judge Jang Min-kyung, a prosecutor disclosed that maggots were found on the deceased infant's genitals and the area was badly chafed.

When asked whether they had been aware of the condition, the father, identified only as A, 22, said he found out later, while the mother, identified as B, 22, said she thought it happened because the diaper was not changed properly, but added that she changed it every time the baby was fed formula.

The examination also revealed that after the baby died, A had asked an AI chatbot how severe the punishment would be for a child's death. A said he searched out of panic.

B was also found to have searched terms including "newborn death insurance" and "I want to kill my child" on a portal site over several months beginning about a month after the baby's birth.

When questioned about the searches, B said she did it to seek comfort because of postpartum depression.

The couple faces charges of neglecting the infant 140 times — leaving the child alone at home to visit PC bangs or go on trips — from Dec. 22 last year, when the baby was only about 10 days old, through July 5 this year, while failing to provide basic care.

Prosecutors believe the couple habitually neglected the child and failed to give adequate formula even as the infant's weight dropped sharply.

Prosecutors also say the couple foresaw the child's death, pointing in particular to the fact that they did not immediately take the baby to a hospital on Sunday despite the infant passing bloody stool and appearing unable to focus its eyes.

Both defendants again denied any intent to kill during the examination, saying they did not know the baby would die.

The infant weighed 3.62 kilograms at birth in December last year and only 3.68 kilograms at death on July 5.

The paternal and maternal grandparents — the parents of A and B — have submitted letters to the court requesting leniency in sentencing.

The victim's attorney pushed back, saying prosecutors' records clearly show the defendants knew, days before the child's death, that the infant's condition could trigger a child abuse report if it became known. "Given the state of the child, there are sufficient grounds to recognize dolus eventualis for murder," the attorney said.

The attorney also asked the court to consider whether it was appropriate to factor the grandparents' leniency letters into sentencing.

The court said it would conduct one more round of evidence examination next month before proceeding to closing arguments.


choigo@heraldcorp.com