A Washington man who buried his estranged wife alive blamed his horrific attack on “overmedication and undertreatment” for mental illness and PTSD, before a judge sentenced him to more than 13 years in prison Friday. he claimed.
Choi Kyung-an, 54, brutally beat, stabbed and bound his wife, Young-an, with duct tape in 2002. Despite her pleas for mercy.
Young-an was able to use her Apple Watch to call 911 before being taken into the woods. Mr. Choi buried her in her own shallow grave and covered her with soil.
At Choi Kyung-an’s sentencing hearing on Monday, she recalled begging him to stop and think about his children. She said she lay in the hole for 12 hours until she mustered up her strength to dig herself out, according to KING 5.
“I don’t want anything. Today I will kill you,” she recalled him saying.
Young said she and her children continue to live in fear.
“Since that day, my life and my children’s lives have been shattered,” she said. “I will have to live with the emotional scars and health problems for the rest of my life.”
She and the prosecution asked the judge to give Choi Kyung-an the maximum sentence, which the defense agreed to once they reached a plea deal. He pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree murder in early March.
Choi’s attorney also addressed the court during the hearing, detailing his client’s struggle with mental illness and PTSD, which he said contributed to his client’s actions on the day of the attack.
Choi’s lawyer said that at the time of the attack, Choi was homeless, isolated from friends and family, and “overmedicated and undertreated” for PTSD, adding that he lives “with regret and remorse every day.” Ta.
“I wish I could walk away that day and never go into that house again,” Choi said in court.
A Thurston County judge sentenced Choi Kyung-an to near the maximum penalty and ordered him not to have any contact with her.
The judge said: “The offenses to which you have pleaded guilty were appalling.” “Preventing someone from seeking help, assaulting them, restraining them, and burying them alive. By your entered plea, you have admitted responsibility for that.”
The judge told the victim he hoped the sentence would allow him to move forward.
“I don’t think there are words to describe the 12 hours of physical pain, fear and pain of thinking you might lose your life and never see your children again,” the judge said.
“You are strong and brave. I hope today’s hearing closes this chapter so you can focus on emotional and spiritual healing for yourself and your children.”
