Jang Yun-gi sentenced to life in prison for killing Gwangju high school girl

Jang Yun-gi, accused of killing a second-year high school student on a secluded walkway in the Gwangju-South Jeolla integrated special city last May, was sentenced to life in prison at his first trial Wednesday.

The 13th Criminal Division of the Gwangju District Court, presided over by Judge Lee Jeong-ho, handed down the life sentence to Jang on charges including rape and murder under the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes.

Jang was indicted on charges of killing Lee Chae-won, a second-year high school student, around midnight on May 5 on a secluded walkway in Wolgye-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, and of wielding a weapon at a male high school student who rushed to the scene after hearing her screams. Jang was arrested on an emergency basis on the morning of the attack, and an arrest warrant was issued on May 7, placing him in detention throughout the investigation and trial.

Jang also faces charges of stalking and sexually assaulting a female coworker two days before the killing of Lee.

Police had initially applied general homicide charges under the Criminal Act, as Jang claimed the killing was impulsive. Prosecutors, after taking over the case and conducting a supplementary investigation, determined that the killing was sexually motivated and indicted him on the more serious charge of rape and murder under the sexual violence punishment act. That charge carries only two possible sentences: death or life in prison.

At the final hearing before sentencing, prosecutors asked the court to impose the death penalty.