<Anchor> The



adoptive mother who killed her 16-month-old baby Jeong In-i after being abused has been commuted to 35 years in prison at the appeals court. Although the court admitted the murder charge, it was judged that it was not enough to sentence him to life imprisonment as in the first trial.



Reporter Ahn Hee-jae reports.



<Reporter>



Jung In-i's adoptive mother, Jang Mo, strongly denied the murder charges from the first trial.



[



Jeong Hee-won

/ Adoptive mother's attorney at the time in January: How would you admit murder when you deny child abuse and murder?]

However, following the first trial, the appeals court also concluded that Jeong In-i died of Jang's abuse.



After adopting Jung In-yi, he habitually and cruelly abused him, stating the stress of parenting, and eventually killed him.



The court rebuked, saying, "Severe punishment is necessary," saying, "Even though Jung In's suffering must have been so severe that it was difficult to even estimate, Mr. Jang is not fully acknowledging the responsibility."



Nevertheless, the sentence was greatly reduced to 35 years in prison, breaking the original sentence that sentenced him to life imprisonment.



It is difficult to say that there was a deliberate intention to kill, and therefore it cannot be concluded that there are objective circumstances sufficient to sentence him to life imprisonment.



The court also emphasized the need for efforts to supplement the weak child protection system, saying that it sympathizes with the social outrage.



The stepfather Ahn was acquitted of the charge of direct abuse, but he was sentenced to 5 years in prison, the same as in the first trial, saying that he blocked the opportunity to save Jeong In-i by neglecting him knowing the abuse.



Citizens who had been pleading for a severe punishment were outraged.



[Gong Hye-jeong/CEO of the Korea Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse: How and how cruelly killing a baby will result in life imprisonment or the death penalty.

Is the court's will to eradicate child abuse?

.] While the



adoptive parents did not take a particular position, the prosecution said that they were considering whether to appeal.



(Video coverage: Yang Hyun-cheol, video editing: Park Ki-duk)