It was confirmed that Lee Eun-hae (31), a suspect in the 'valley murder' case, refused the help of a public defender during the prosecution's investigation after the arrest.
Immediately after his arrest, Mr. Lee, who demanded the appointment of a lawyer and refused to testify, has recently changed his attitude and opened his mouth, but it is known that he has completely denied the allegations.
According to the legal community today (25th), the 2nd criminal division of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Chang-soo) arrested Lee and his accomplice Cho Hyun-soo (30), who were recently arrested on charges of murder, attempted murder, and attempted violation of the Special Act on Prevention of Insurance Fraud. summoned and investigated.
However, since the investigation on the 20th of this month, the day after the arrest warrant was issued, Lee refused the help of a public defender.
It is said that the public defender selected by the court before the interrogation of the suspect (warrant substantive examination) before arrest went to the Incheon District Prosecutor's Office on the same day and returned after confirming Mr. Lee's intentions.
Lee is known to be in a position to appoint a private attorney through his family.
It is said that Lee, who was separated from Cho and continued to be investigated by the prosecution last weekend, changed his attitude after being arrested and actively denied the charges of murder and attempted murder, unlike in the early days of exercising the right to veto a statement after arrest.
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A prosecution official said, "We are continuing to investigate Mr. Lee and Mr. Cho," but "the details of the statement cannot be disclosed as they are under investigation."
Inside and outside the legal community, Lee is highly likely to deny his allegations and claim his innocence not only in the prosecution investigation but also in future trials.
A lawyer specializing in criminal cases said, "Mr. Lee must also be well aware that it is not easy for the prosecution to prove charges of 'negligent murder' in court. It is highly likely to happen.”
He is said to be an 'act' if he directly performs an act prohibited by law, and an 'omission' if he does not do what he ought to do.
Prosecutors found that Lee and Cho, who were aiming for 800 million won in life insurance money in the victim's name, did not do it on purpose, even though they were able to rescue them at the time, and applied the charge of 'negligence killing'.
Prosecutors have extended the arrest period for those arrested on the 16th for 10 days and plan to hand them over to trial early next month.
Mr. Lee, along with his brother-in-law, Mr. Jo, are accused of murdering Mr. A (age 39 at the time of his death) in Yongso Valley, Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do, around 8:24 pm on June 30, 2019.
Lee and Cho were arrested by the police at an officetel near Samsong Station in Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 16th, four months after they hid ahead of the second investigation by the prosecution on December 14 last year.
(Photo = Yonhap News)