Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yaya]

Wife guilty of killing husband
Jurors didn't believe Jee-Hyun Song stabbed husband accidentally during hug
By RACHANEE SRISAVASDI
The Orange County Register

Santa Ana Death by hugging? Jurors didn't buy it.

Jee-Hyun Song, 29, was convicted Thursday of second-degree murder for killing her husband Dong-Uk Kim in their Anaheim home on Nov. 10, 2005. The verdict came down quickly, taking the jury of eight women and four men only an hour and 15 minutes before reaching the unanimous decision.

The theology graduate student had testified that her husband's death was accidental. She told jurors she was preparing noodles in their Anaheim home when Kim turned her around and gave her a surprise hug, not knowing she was holding a 5 � inch kitchen knife which plunged into him. Kim staggered into the living room, collapsed and died.

But jurors thought Song's story was too tall of a tale.

"It was an interesting defense, but I couldn't see it happening,'' said juror Michael Rooney, 46, of Placentia. "If you were to give someone a hug, and felt pain, you would let go."

The kitchen knife went about five inches deep into Kim's body.

During closing arguments, Deputy District Attorney Howard Gundy explained how Song's story defied logic.

The knife entered Kim in his upper chest, and sliced downward to his heart, he said. Song, who is about 5'0, had to hold the knife above her head to inflict the wound. Song's story would mean Kim's wound should have been in his lower abdomen. Song is about 5 feet tall, while Kim was about 5'6''.

"Sometimes people get killed accidentally with knifes and guns,'' said Gundy, after the verdict. "But the physical evidence in this case never reasonably explained it."

Jurors also said they could not comprehend why Song didn't call 911. Song testified she didn't call the emergency number because she didn't speak English, and instead called a friend who spoke Korean. But upon cross-examination, she admitted to reading and writing English.

Song, a South Korean national studying at Bethesda Christian in Anaheim, came to this country in 2004. She met her husband at the school that September. They married about four months later. Song said they were in love, happy and faithful, insisting she had no reason to kill her husband.

That night, the couple talked about returning to South Korea and living with Song's parents. Kim was about to finish with classes, but Song had a few semesters left. Song drank Jack Daniels during the talk.

On Thursday, Song's face turned red as a Korean interpreter relayed the verdict. She burst out sobbing after jurors left the 11 {+t} {+h}-floor courtroom. She hugged her mom before a bailiff handcuffed her and escorted her away.

Song's parents and lawyer, Keith Kim, rushed out of the courtroom without commenting.

Song will be housed at Orange County women's jail in Santa Ana until she is sentenced July 20. She faces 16 years to life in prison.

[wo buxihuan hanguoren]

Wow lots of Korean killers in the States today. My advice? Don't leave the Korea to begin with.

[blaseblasphemener]

[cdninkorea]

[rocklee]

[Hater Depot]

[uote]Song testified she didn't call the emergency number because she didn't speak English, and instead called a friend who spoke Korean. But upon cross-examination, she admitted to reading and writing English.[/quote]

Hmm... not that uncommon of a situation, is it.

[ChopChaeJoe]

You don't have to speak at all if you call 911. they'll send someone.

[willneverteachagain]

that's true even if the call gets disconnected, it's still tracked to that address

[Cheonmunka]

Well, she might not have known that. I called the police (111) for a Korean man who was burgled because he called and they didn't come because they didn't understand him. (Or, couldn't be bothered.)

I think the damning physical evidence is the best bit, that she would have been holding the knife up, facing the man, during her 'surprise!'

Maybe it was caused by (someone's) suggestion of returning to Korea.

[SuperFly]

They'll come if you scream.

Wife said the going theory over at MissyUsa.com is that she's a damned liar and guilty as sin.

It was a weak defense.