▲ This undated file photo provided by the Daejeon Metropolitan Police Agency shows Myeong Jae-wan, a teacher convicted of murdering a student inside a classroom. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) court-student murder

(LEAD) Supreme Court confirms life sentence for teacher over student's murder

(ATTN: UPDATES with details of court ruling)

By Lee Haye-ah

SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- The Supreme Court on Thursday confirmed a life sentence for a teacher convicted of killing a 7-year-old student at their school in the central city of Daejeon last year.

The court handed down the ruling to Myeong Jae-wan, 49, who was found guilty of luring the student, Kim Ha-neul, to a classroom on Feb. 10 last year and stabbing her with a weapon she had prepared in advance.

The teacher was also convicted of kicking and damaging a school computer and assaulting another teacher several days before the murder.

During the trial, Myeong admitted to the crime but claimed she was in a mentally impaired state. The prosecution sought the death penalty.

Both the district and appellate courts sentenced her to life in prison and ordered her to wear an electronic tracking device for 30 years.

The Supreme Court confirmed that order as well.

"The accused cannot be considered to have been in a mentally impaired state at the time of the crime, given that she carried out the crime according to a prepared plan and later tried to cover it up, and the detailed statements she gave on the crime process," the court said.

"The accused, who was in a position to protect the victim as an elementary school teacher, killed the 7-year-old victim at school, prepared tools for the crime while thoroughly planning the crime in advance, and used a method that was cruel and vicious," it added.

Myeong was dismissed by the Daejeon education office last April.

(END)

[ⓒ K-VIBE. 무단전재-재배포 금지]