At the Time of Murdering Her Husband
She apparently swung the knife at her husband
After further police investigations, the murder of a Korean-American man by his wife, Mi-sun Yoo, happened while she was intoxicated on alcohol and cocaine. Yoo is facing indictment on first degree murder.
She apparently swung the knife at her husband
“Yoo denied her crime at the time when she was arrested,” said the LAPD. “The fingerprint on the knife matched with Yoo’s, but she insisted that her hand got on the knife while trying to take the knife out of her husband’s hand.”
Investigation afterwards revealed that Yoo swung the knife at her husband just once, although it was initially reported that she did so multiple times. The knife penetrated through the victim’s chest and pierced through his heart.
The number of times Yoo stabbed her husband is critical, as doing so once may be seen as accidental. Stabbing a victim multiple times will inevitably be seen as a premediated criminal act. The fact that the victim was stabbed with a kitchen knife also leaves the chances of Yoo killing him by accident open for interpretation.
“Yoo may not have made the right decision as she was on alcohol and drug,” said attorney James Kim. “If she just swung the knife once, it may end up being a second degree murder, which could imprison her for a minimum of 15 years.
If it’s revealed that her husband attacked her first and Yoo was simply defending herself, the penalty may even be smaller.”
Yoo, who is detained in Lynwood, has her bail rated at $2 million.
Readers are showing interest in the difference between types of murder after Yoo’s crime has been reported. Lawyer David Kim helped the Korea Daily detail the difference between first and second degree murder.
※First Degree Murder
First degree murder requires the high level of punishment as the assailant must have been ruled to have committed the crime with clear intentions and plans. It includes assailants who ▶purposely waited to harm the victim ▶kidnapped the victim ▶used knife, gun or other weapons on multiple occasions ▶planned the crime in advance ▶used a critical weapon. First degree murder requires at least 25 years of imprisonment. Bail is common rated from $1 to $2 million.
※Second Degree Murder
Second degree murder is for a case when an assailant committed the crime without premeditated intentions. Second degree murder describes a situation when an assailant ▶lost control of oneself due to alcohol or drugs ▶murders someone amid extreme anger ▶murders someone after a onetime use of a weapon. Second degree murder requires at least 15 years of imprisonment and there is a potential of being prematurely released on parole.
By Woosoo Lee