He urged the court not to punish the accused.
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This article includes descriptions of violence which might disturb some readers.
The mother of a teenager who died after being severely abused by church members has urged a court not to punish her daughter’s killers.
The 52-year-old mother, “A,” testified at a hearing at the Incheon District Court on Monday, September 2 and said that she was “grateful” to the defendants, accused of killing her 17-year-old daughter. She also said that the defendants never forced her to send her daughter to church.
The defendants, 52-year-old choir leader “B” and two other members, are currently on trial for alleged child abuse resulting in death. “A” has also been charged with child neglect. In her initial statement to police, “A” said that “B,” who is also the daughter of the church founder, had offered to care for her daughter when she began to suffer from symptoms of bipolar disorder. But “A” changed her statement in court, saying she did not recall ever receiving such an offer.
Church members reportedly advised “A” against sending her daughter to a psychiatric facility, citing the possibility of sexual abuse. Instead, she was sent to the church, where she was subjected to severe abuse for three months until her death on May 15. The prosecution’s report showed that the choir director ordered the other two members to “break” the victim if she did not comply with their instructions.
Despite the victim’s repeated pleas to be transferred to a psychiatric facility, church members continued to abuse her. Her body was eventually found with both hands tied and numerous bruises on her body. You can read more about the shocking account here.
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