The incident took place around 4PM KST at a social welfare center in Busan. While Lee was at the center to receive rehabilitation treatment, Jung's mother was also at the center to receive cognitive therapy and was in the treatment room. Jung was being watched over by his older brother in the hallway.
When Lee's assistant left his side for a moment, Lee found Jung toddling throughout the hallway, took him to a nearby balcony, and threw him off. The young child fell from a 10 meter height (approx. 33 feet) and suffered head trauma. Unconscious, Jung was taken to a hospital, where he died around five hours later.
The police plan to file for an arrest warrant for Lee on the charge of murder, as they stated, "The attacker took the baby, the victim who was playing in the hallway, and then he went outside and threw him without any reason."
Netizens appear conflicted as to whether Lee should be punished severely or not due to his disability, as comments state, "I would like it if the punishment for a person with developmental disability could be harsher. He probably would not be able to grasp just how great of a sin he committed after killing [the baby]," "Wrongdoings should be punished, crimes should be reflected upon, and the law should be cold-hearted," and, "The comments really give me goosebumps. He didn't choose to be born with his disability."
People with developmental disabilities can either have mental or physical impairments or both. Developmental disabilities include down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder among others. Those with developmental disabilities are usually given leniency in courts as it is believed that people with these disabilities have little control or knowledge over their actions.
What are your thoughts? Should the 19 year old be charged with murder?
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