Prosecutors indict Kim Sung-woo on retaliatory murder charges

Private investigator used to surveil victims before attack

Rape charges under review

Prosecutors vow to seek heavy sentence

Kim Sung-woo, the suspect in the Songpa mother-in-law murder and wife kidnapping case, is transferred from the Songpa Police Station to the prosecution office on Oct. 20. [Yonhap]
Kim Sung-woo, the suspect in the Songpa mother-in-law murder and wife kidnapping case, is transferred from the Songpa Police Station to the prosecution office on Oct. 20. [Yonhap]

Kim Sung-woo, 26, a social service worker who went to his estranged wife's family home, killed his mother-in-law and kidnapped and repeatedly assaulted his wife, has been indicted on charges of retaliatory murder. Prosecutors and police determined that Kim harbored a grudge against his wife's family and committed the crimes out of a desire for revenge.

During the review process leading to indictment, prosecutors also obtained new footage of the attack. The video reportedly shows Kim killing his mother-in-law without hesitation.

The Seoul Eastern District Prosecution Office said Friday it had filed for an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet order against Kim and indicted him on charges including violation of the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes — covering retaliatory murder and unlawful confinement.

Additional charges include aggravated assault, aggravated obstruction of a public official's duties resulting in injury and aggravated destruction of public property, violation of the Road Traffic Act, and violations of the Stalking Punishment Act and the Domestic Violence Punishment Act.

According to the indictment, Kim attacked his mother-in-law with a bladed weapon at around 5:35 a.m. on Oct. 11, killing her, then forced his wife into a vehicle and abducted her.

While his wife was in the vehicle, Kim, who was carrying an awl, punched her in the face multiple times. Prosecutors applied charges of retaliatory murder, retaliatory unlawful confinement and aggravated assault for these acts.

Prosecutors also questioned a private investigator Kim had hired to locate his wife and gathered additional evidence including closed-circuit television footage and internet search records. Kim had used the private investigator to track the movements of the victims for several weeks before the attack.

Prosecutors further indicted Kim on charges that he rammed a patrol car and injured a police officer while fleeing, struck a parked vehicle during the flight and left the scene without taking any action, and approached the victim for more than approximately one month.

The prosecution office is also reviewing whether to indict Kim on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes — specifically rape resulting in injury. The Seoul Eastern District Prosecution Office received the case on that charge from the Suwon District Prosecution Office and is examining it.

"We will do our utmost to maintain the prosecution so that the defendant receives a heavy sentence commensurate with the crimes," a prosecution official said. "We will continue to work to ensure the victims and their bereaved families can exercise their right to make statements during trial proceedings, and to support their recovery through psychological treatment and compensation payments."


20ki@heraldcorp.com