An emergency press conference on the Namyangju domestic violence·stalking femicide case is being held in front of the Cheong Wa Dae fountain in Seoul. Yonhap News

Kim Hoon, 44, who was indicted for stalking a woman he had previously dated in Namyangju, Gyeonggi, and killing her in retaliation, partially denied the charges at his first trial while claiming diminished capacity.

At the first hearing on the 9th before Criminal Division 1 of the Namyangju Branch of the Uijeongbu District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Guk-sik) on seven counts including retaliatory murder under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes, the attorney for Kim Hoon said, “The basic facts differ, including the indictment in the assault case that was consolidated into this trial, yet the prosecution indicted by concluding it was retaliation based on that,” and “He admits and confesses the remaining offenses, but he was in a state of diminished capacity.”

The attorney for Kim Hoon said, “On the day of the offense, the defendant went to return belongings to A,” and “The previous day, he received counseling and treatment at a psychiatric hospital, the doctor increased the antidepressant dosage more than usual and even conveyed a caution that combining it with other medication could be fatal.” The attorney asked the court to check the fact of a psychiatric evaluation and to summon the treating physician as a witness.

On March 14 at around 9 a.m., on a roadside in Onam-eup, Namyangju, he broke the window of victim A, 27, and killed her with a weapon he had prepared in advance. After the crime, Kim cut his electronic ankle monitor and fled in his vehicle, but was apprehended in Yangpyeong County about one hour later.

Kim had been on trial for assaulting A in May last year, and was under police investigation after being accused of installing a tracking device on her vehicle. He was found to have sought out A to ask for submission of a letter of non-punishment or withdrawal of the complaint, and to try to prevent the court testimony of an acquaintance of A.

Prosecutors determined that when his attempt to smooth over the earlier assault case did not go as he wished, Kim decided on retaliation and killed A.