A father, in his 40s, who killed his 10-year-old son by striking him dozens of times with a baseball bat as a form of discipline has been sentenced to 11 years in prison.
According to the legal community on the 20th, the Supreme Court’s First Division finalized last month the original sentence handed down to Seo (44), who was tried on charges including child abuse resulting in death.
Seo was indicted for beating his 10-year-old son 20 to 30 times with an aluminum baseball bat at their residence in Yeonsu District, Incheon, in January last year, causing the child’s death.
The investigation revealed that Seo committed the crime out of anger after his son, who was disobedient and rebellious, said, “Since I did wrong, I will leave home and live alone,” while being disciplined. The boy died the next day from traumatic shock caused by multiple blunt force injuries.
The first trial sentenced Seo to 12 years in prison, ordered him to complete 40 hours of a child abuse treatment program, and imposed a five-year employment ban in child-related institutions. The court stated, “The defendant’s actions were an unequivocal and indiscriminate act of violence against the young victim, and the nature of the crime is very heinous.”
It added, “Moreover, this crime was committed by the biological father in the home, where the victim child should have been protected and felt safest. The fact that no compensation can be made for the young victim’s death further aggravates the defendant’s culpability,” strongly condemning him.
The appellate court accepted Seo’s claim of excessive sentencing and reduced the sentence to 11 years. The appellate court explained, “The defendant admitted to all charges from the early stages of investigation and showed remorse. The victim’s biological mother does not wish for the defendant’s punishment, and the defendant has other children to care for aside from the victim.”
Seo appealed the decision again, but the Supreme Court also found no error in this sentencing judgment and dismissed the appeal.