South Korean appeal court cuts father's sentence for abuse that disabled infant daughter

The Ulsan panel of the Busan High Court reduced a father's prison sentence from four years to three on 16 October in a case involving abuse that left his infant daughter permanently disabled, South Korean outlets reported. The defendant, identified only as A and described as being in his 30s, had been prosecuted for child abuse causing serious injury and violations of the Child Welfare Act. The appeals court left in place orders to complete a 40-hour child-abuse treatment programme and a five-year ban on employment at child-related institutions. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]

The father was accused of abusing his daughter on five occasions in February and March last year, when she was four to five months old, Yonhap reported. The acts included shaking her and throwing her so that her head struck the ceiling after she cried. She lost consciousness, suffered subdural bleeding and underwent two brain operations. She was subsequently diagnosed with a brain-related disability and registered as disabled. The trial court said the father had abandoned his duty to protect the child and repeatedly abused her, then avoided responsibility by making excuses. [ 2 ]

The appeal judges accepted his argument that the original sentence was too heavy. They noted that he had taken parental leave and cared for the baby, and said an inability to momentarily control stress accumulated while mainly handling her sleep appeared to be one cause of the offences. The court also considered his attempts to remedy the harm and lack of prior criminal punishment. It said the child would need continued rehabilitation and financial support, and that after serving his sentence he would need to fulfil his responsibilities by paying treatment and child-rearing costs. [ 2 ]