Mother who screamed 'please die' at infant faces appeal ruling in baby Haedun abuse death

An appeals court is set to deliver its ruling Tuesday in the case of baby Haedun, a 4-month-old boy who died after being abused by his parents. His biological mother, who faces a murder charge, is seeking to have her life sentence overturned, arguing the killing was not intentional.

The Second Criminal Division of the Gwangju High Court, presided over by Judge Hwang Jin-hee, will hold the appeals sentencing hearing for the biological mother, identified as A, 34, and the biological father, identified as B, 36, at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Both were indicted on charges including child abuse resulting in death.

A was indicted on charges of repeatedly assaulting her 4-month-old son at the family's home in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, on Oct. 22 last year, then leaving him unattended in a running baby bath until he died.

She also faces charges of abusing or neglecting her son on 19 separate occasions over roughly two months beginning Aug. 24 of that year.

Investigators found that A had thrown her son, who could not yet support his own body, onto a bed and grabbed him by the hair, among other acts of abuse. Home security camera footage also captured her screaming "please die" at the infant.

The boy died 133 days after birth. His body showed bruising in multiple locations and 500 milliliters of bleeding in the abdominal cavity.

A claimed she had no intent to kill, citing parenting stress and postpartum depression. The first-instance court, however, found that she had acted with contingent intent to kill and sentenced her to life in prison.

B was sentenced to four years and six months in prison for failing to stop his wife's abuse and for threatening a witness in the case.

A appealed, arguing she had no intent to kill and that the sentence was too harsh. B also appealed on the grounds that his sentence was excessive, while prosecutors appealed seeking a heavier punishment for B.

In the appeals proceedings, A's legal team acknowledged all charges but asked the court to impose a fixed-term prison sentence, citing the contingent nature of the intent involved.

B's legal team argued that his conduct amounted to neglect rather than direct abuse and appealed for leniency.

Prosecutors sought a life sentence for A and 10 years in prison for B. The court concluded its examination of evidence and closed arguments on July 7.