An aunt who assaulted and killed her 5-year-old nephew for discipline reasons was sentenced to 7 years in prison by an appeals court. 



Yesterday (20th), the first criminal division of the Gwangju High Court (Judge Lee Seung-cheol) dismissed both appeals in the appeal of Mr. sentenced to 7 years in prison, 40 hours of child abuse treatment program completion and 5 years restriction of employment in child-related institutions. 



Mr. A was put on trial for allegedly killing his nephew B (5) several times in an apartment in Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do. 



Mr. A is accused of hitting Miss B with an iron windshield wiper on the night of February 13th and around 10:30 in the morning of the 14th. 



Ms. B collapsed in the bathroom of the house after vomiting on February 14, and was taken to the hospital by a report from another family member, but eventually died. 



A number of bruises were found on the body of Ms. B, who died, and the cause of death was confirmed as traumatic shock.



As a result of the investigation, it is known that Mr. A took on the custody of Mr. B after the parents of Mr. B divorced.



A netizen who claimed to be 'Miss B's biological mother' posted an article in a national petition on March 11, calling for severe punishment for Mr. A. 



In the end, Mr. A, who appeared in court, admitted corporal punishment, but insisted that the child often lied during the process of raising him and was only trying to discipline him, but that he did not intend to abuse him. 



In particular, in the process of disciplining Ms. B, she protested, 'I could not have expected that she would die'. 



In response, the court ruled that it was 'abuse' that exceeded the limit of corporal punishment for a child as young as 5 years old. 



The court of first instance emphasized, "All children have the right to grow up happily in a stable family environment and must be protected from all forms of abuse, violence, and neglect." We have considered the complaints,” he judged. 



The court of appeals also stated, "As a result of comprehensive consideration of the victim's father's plea for mercy and the motive for the crime, it seems that the sentencing of the lower court was carried out within a reasonable range."



(Photo = Yonhap News)