Father testifies at trial of officers accused of botching investigation; apologizes to victim's family

Jang, a police inspector and father of convicted killer Jang Yun-gi, leaves the Gwangju District Court in Dong-gu, Gwangju, on Wednesday after testifying as a witness at the trial of officers accused of mishandling the investigation. [Yonhap]
Jang, a police inspector and father of convicted killer Jang Yun-gi, leaves the Gwangju District Court in Dong-gu, Gwangju, on Wednesday after testifying as a witness at the trial of officers accused of mishandling the investigation. [Yonhap]

The father of Jang Yun-gi — convicted of murdering a high school girl — said Wednesday he still cannot accept that his son committed such a crime, after testifying as a witness at the Gwangju District Court trial of police officers accused of botching the investigation.

Jang, a serving police inspector, drew public outrage after destroying a sex doll that had been a key piece of evidence in his son's case. Speaking to reporters as Jang left the courthouse Wednesday, Jang said he had struggled to believe what his son had done.

Asked whether Jang felt sorry toward victim Lee Chae-won, Jang said, "I am sorry." When asked whether Jang understood how much pain the victim's family was suffering, Jang said, "I do."

On whether Jang had known in advance that destroying evidence of his son's crime would shield him from punishment under a family-member exemption in the law, Jang said, "At the time, I was not in my right mind either."

Asked about cable ties identified as restraints used in the crime, Jang said, "I did not think that far at the time," before leaving the courthouse with a black cap and mask covering his face.

Also testifying Wednesday were a detective from the Gwangju Gwangsan Police Station's violent crimes unit who had recommended rape-murder charges early in the investigation, and a criminal profiler attached to the Gwangju Metropolitan Police Agency who had proposed examining the case for a sex crime motive.

The witnesses told the court they had based their recommendations on circumstances suggesting Jang Yun-gi had tried to subdue and abduct the girl rather than kill her immediately, as well as on inconsistencies in statements they found unreliable.

The court said it would hold the next hearing Nov. 4, when witness questioning will continue for Inspector Park, 57, chief of the Gwangsan Police Station's violent crimes unit, who has been indicted on charges including aiding the destruction of evidence and is currently in detention, and Detective Sergeant Kim, 41, a member of the same unit.


123@heraldcorp.com