A 42-year-old woman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for the tragic death of her 11-month-old nephew, whom she threw from a 24th-floor apartment in Daegu, North Gyeongsang province.
The Daegu District Court’s western branch issued the ruling on October 10, finding her guilty of murder and also imposing a five-year probation period following her prison term.
The incident occurred on May 8, coinciding with Korea’s Parents’ Day, when the woman threw the infant from the balcony of their high-rise residential complex in Yucheon-dong. The court’s decision showed the crime’s severity, shocking the local community.
The Daegu District Court detailed the harrowing circumstances surrounding the crime, stating that the infant died in agony, unable to voice his suffering. The court noted the profound emotional scars that the mother would endure following the tragic event. The incident occurred on May 8, Parents’ Day in South Korea, at an apartment belonging to the woman’s younger brother and his wife in the Dalseo district of Daegu.
Prior to her visit, the woman had secretly packed a knife in her bag but ultimately abandoned that plan, fearing detection. Instead, after asking her brother’s wife if she could hold her nephew, she took a more drastic action. Once alone with the child, she locked the door and threw him off the balcony while the mother was out of the room.
Reports indicate that the woman had a documented history of mental health issues, including antisocial personality disorder and depression. Following her discharge from a hospital, she had stopped taking her medication, which contributed to her unstable state. She developed delusions, fearing that her family intended to harm the infant, leading her to commit the shocking act.
In the aftermath, she made alarming statements to her sister-in-law, such as, “I euthanized him,” and “I would have hurt him more at the hospital.” These comments have added to the distress surrounding the case, highlighting the tragic combination of mental illness and impulsive actions that led to the loss of a young life.
Prosecutors had requested a 20-year prison term, emphasizing the premeditated nature of the crime, as the woman had brought a knife with her and locked the door before the incident. The court’s explanation highlighted the tragedy, stating, “The victim, unable to express himself, died in agony, and his mother will live with the emotional scars and pain for the rest of her life.”
