Leg limp Kim Ho-joong's apology for life's crime, hit-and-run...Will a three-year prison term count?
Mar 20, 2025
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An appeals court hearing was held on the 19th against Kim Ho-joong, who was indicted on charges of violating the law on aggravated punishment of certain crimes (hazardous driving injuries) at the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Appeal Department 5-3 (Chief Judge Kim Ji-sun, So Byung-jin and Kim Yong-joong).
On this day, Kim Ho-joong appeared in court, limping with his legs on crutches while wearing a sky-blue robe. He "I'm sorry for causing a stir in society. Spending the past four seasons here (the detention center), I took a closer look at my mistakes and had a time for sincere reflection. This sin will not be erased for the rest of my life." "I will live a different life than before with this incident as a catalyst. Everything is my fault and my mistake. I sincerely reflect upon myself."
Kim Ho-joong's lawyer argued that he did not cause the accident due to drunk driving. Although he drank a little alcohol at the time of the accident, it was not a situation where normal driving was impossible, and a contact accident occurred while operating a mobile phone while driving, not because of drinking. In response, Kim Ho-joong said, `It should not be misunderstood too much and lead to excessive punishment," he said.
However, the prosecution demanded a three-and-a-half-year prison term, just like the first trial, saying, `It has already been investigated during the investigation phase.'
Kim Ho-joong is accused of driving under the influence on a road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul in May last year, hitting a taxi on the other side of the road, and forcing his manager, identified only by his surname Jang, to make false accusations. However, 17 hours after the accident, Kim Ho-joong attended the police and applied the Widmark formula to prevent him from measuring blood alcohol levels, so the charge of drunk driving was excluded.
In November last year, the first trial sentenced Kim Ho-joong to two and a half years in prison on charges of dangerous driving injuries, escape injuries, and inaction after accidents under the Road Traffic Act. Since then, Kim Ho-joong has filed a 100-page letter of apology and appealed for leniency.
The sentencing hearing for Kim Ho-joong will be held on the 25th of next month.
silk781220@sportschosun.com
