[Report file] "Stepfather admits to sexual assault of daughter"... Even the judge cried.

Fifteen, dreamy girls turned their backs on the world one day at a time.

In May of last year, it was the 'Cheongju Middle School Girls Death Incident' that shocked everyone.

Stepfather A was under investigation for allegedly raping her daughter Reum-i (pseudonym)'s friend Miso (pseudonym).

It was investigated that the crime was committed after making them mentally and physically weak by feeding them alcohol and sedatives, but Mr. A has consistently denied the allegations.

After the deaths of our children, we had to trace back the suffering and harm suffered by the children while forging the records that were left behind.

In the first trial, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison, but the second trial was different.

The sentence was increased to 25 years in prison, and it was

.

Let's reflect on the judge's judgment contained in the judgment of the appeals court held on the 9th.

Same Evidence, Different Judgment...

Reason for admitting to sexual assault

After the first trial, both Mr. A and the prosecution filed an appeal.

Mr. A, who repeatedly denied the charges with excuses, said that his sentence was excessive, and that the prosecution, who asked for life imprisonment, was insufficient.

1 Shim did not admit that Mr. A sexually assaulted his daughter, Reum.

He saw that there was no evidence to prove that the rape had taken place.

① The statement “Dad raped me. Something got into my genitals, but I don’t know what it was.” It is difficult to conclude that the genitals were inserted. I heard the reasons for what you said.

Because the child had already died, I had to look at the police report, counseling record, medical record, and message history left behind while he was alive.

The second trial was different.

I thought that it could be accepted and accepted by the judge's autonomous judgment (free heart).

In the verdict, I ripped through the evidence one by one over about 17 pages.

① Arumi visited the Department of Mental Health in February of last year and revealed, "My father raped me. Even now, when my father goes to the bathroom, he is afraid, so he packs a blanket and sleeps." The fact that he answered that the assault was correct, ② that he gave details of the crime to the police in March, and that he said, “I came to record as a victim of sexual assault by my father” at the sunflower center I visited with my mother in April. I found the damage statement to be reliable because it was continuous and detailed.

I saw that the statements of several people around me also support the truth of the sexual assault of Arumi.

The first trial said that the statement was vague or contradictory to admit that Reum was sexually assaulted by Mr. A.

For example, you said, "(I was sexually assaulted) I think it's a dream when I think about it."

The day after Arumi confessed to her friend of her sexual assault, she called again and said, 'It seems like a dream'.

However, the second trial judge found that Arum was under strong pressure from Mr. A until the police investigation after the first report.

In front of Reum, her biological mother said, "Wait, no, you were raped by your father? You have never been raped, so why did you get raped?" may have overturned her statement afterward.

Enlarging an image

The time of suffering written in the verdict, and the nature of the crime of family sexual violence

"As if in a dream with my stepdad for fear that my mother would be worried... The things the psychiatrist said (the police) were investigated. It was good to say no. I felt comfortable saying that. ."

The first and second trial saw the same evidence, but the second trial made a different judgment from the original trial, taking into account the characteristics of family sexual violence crimes and the psychological situation of Arumi at the time.

A clinical psychology doctor who analyzed Reum's psychological state said, "After Areum's death from her biological mother when she was young, she did not feel emotional stability from her mother. They formed an attachment relationship, and in such a situation, it is highly probable that Mr. A would feel guilty that it was his fault that the situation was reported, or he would have a desperate feeling that he had to prevent the breakup due to the fear of separation and abandonment.”

The court overturned the fact of damage and cooperated with Mr. A according to such a hearing, and decided that the statement could not be regarded as false or distorted.

“Even though my daughter was sexually assaulted by her stepfather, she had to endure excruciating pain to keep her family alive.”

It is said that the judge, who calmly read the sentence in a somber atmosphere, stopped and wept at the passage above.

As for the reason for the sentencing, the judge said, "Areum was afraid of the dissolution of her family and suffered intense internal conflict and emotional pain in a situation where she had to take care of Mr. It became the main reason why victims could not endure the reality they were given and made extreme choices together,” he pointed out.

In addition, "using the fear of being separated from the family and the guilt of divulging Mr. A's sexual assault (even though he is a victim), Mr. A overturns Arumi's statement and reports the trend of his friend's smile, etc. It was used as '," he wrote.

The pain, confusion, and process that led to her death are fully recorded in the verdict.

Kim Seok-min, head of the Chungbuk Justice Association, who has been in charge of the Cheongju high school girl case, said, "The judgment of the appellate court differed

from Reum's

. We have taken into account the reversed post-war circumstances,” he said.

Like Reum, it is very difficult to directly report a victim of sexual violence by her family.

This is because most of them are harmed at a young age, so it is difficult to properly interpret the situation, and the perpetrators often engage in sexual contact under the pretext of expressing affection.

convincing other family members to cover the damage, or financial difficulties after separation;

In some cases, reporting is not possible due to concerns about retaliation or the like.

Lee Hyun-sook, executive representative of 'Taktin Tomorrow' counseling center

he said.

It must have been in a similar vein when she said, 'I think it's a dream' or 'I felt at ease when I said no'.

Enlarging an image

"Children's death is a social killing" We still have a lot to do

Even when this incident was announced last year, voices of self-righteousness came out saying that our society could not protect the children.

In particular, Reum could not be separated from her stepfather, who had been sexually assaulted in a timely manner.

The current law requires that children at risk of abuse, such as sexual violence, be transferred to shelters, he added, but the children's wishes must be respected except under special circumstances.

When the police investigation was in full swing, according to Reum-i's will, 'I do not want separation', I lived alone with Mr. A in the same house.

In the meantime, Mr. A searched for 'Cheongju lawyer', or collected new evidence photos that could deny his charges.

He also appears to have tried to censor her daughter's cell phone and control the statements made.

Heo Min-sook, a legislative investigator at the National Assembly, pointed out the gap in her legislation, saying, "If you have suffered sexual offenses from family members or guardians in your daily life, you

should promptly lead them to a safe place

An average of 405 reports of sexual assault by family members are reported every year.

Counseling about family sexual violence is also on the rise, with nearly half of them being victims of primary school age.

Due to the difficult nature of victims to report, the actual amount of damage that lies beneath the water may be greater.

Bills have also been proposed to abolish the statute of limitations for sexual violence against family members, or to impose a reporting obligation on family members, but no progress has been made yet in discussion.

I can't lose my children again.

If the crime of kin violence cannot be eradicated immediately, the protection gap must be filled as soon as possible so that the children who have the courage to report the damage are not frustrated.