Kim Ho-joong is not drunk at the first trial of the appeal trial for a drunk hit-and-run, light drinking
Feb 12, 2025
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On the morning of the 12th, the first trial date for Kim Ho-joong, who was indicted on charges of violating the law on the aggravated punishment of certain crimes (hazardous driving injuries, escape injuries), violation of the Road Traffic Act (not taken after the accident), and criminal escape teachers, was held at the Seoul Central District Court's Criminal Appeals Department 5-3 (Chief Judge Kim Ji-sun, So Byung-jin and Kim Yong-joong).
Kim Ho-joong's lawyer actively refuted the suspicion of 'drinking' on the same day. Drinking refers to the act of drinking more alcohol to avoid a police sobriety test or to manipulate blood alcohol levels after a drunk driving accident.
Kim Ho-joong's lawyer said "Drinking makes it impossible to accurately measure (drinking) by drinking strong alcohol in a situation where drinking is expected, but the defendant already knew that the manager would turn himself in instead and did not know that he would go to the police to measure drinking." If a man in his 30s with a strong physique had been drinking to increase the blood alcohol level, he would have drunk strong spirits rather than canned beer."
Regarding the allegation that Kim Ho-joong urged his mother-in-law to give false information, he argued that `he only followed the decision made by the representative of the agency and the head of the headquarters.' `He did not actively decide and drag the situation out, but acted as aiding and abetting.'
Regarding the allegations of dangerous driving injuries under the Specific Crime Aggravated Punishment Act, there are many statements that it was difficult to see them as intoxicated enough to make normal driving difficult. The result of the National Forensic Service's evaluation also showed that the drinking metabolite level was only 6.84mg/liter. 70mg/liter is considered a significant amount of drinking, but 6.84 is less than one-tenth of a light drinking. The CCTV footage showing the stumbling was also not due to drinking, but "There is a deformity in one ankle naturally, which is why I have a disability to walk."
At the same time "Kim Ho-joong acknowledges drunk driving and deeply reflects on it," he added.
Kim Ho-joong is accused of driving his car drunk on the road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, at around 11:40 p.m. on May 9 last year, when he crossed the central line and hit a taxi on the opposite road. Kim Ho-joong is also accused of running away immediately after the accident and urging his manager, Jang, to make false embroidery.
The first trial court sentenced him to two and a half years in prison, saying "I wonder if the quality of the crime is bad and I reflect on it."
The second trial of Kim Ho-joong's appeal will be held on March 19.
silk781220@sportschosun.com
