Itaewon Murder Case

[Anchor Lead]

You may recall the infamous murder that took place in a restroom at a fast food restaurant in Itaewon 20 years ago. A Korean student in his 20s was stabbed to death, but the perpetrators seemed to have evaded justice. The Supreme Court has upheld a 20 year prison sentence for American Arthur Patterson after he was extradited to Korea for the crime.

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Then 23 year old Cho Joong-pil was found stabbed to death in a fast food restaurant restroom in Seoul's Itaewon district in April 1997. Prosecutors indicted two suspects who were at the scene, Edward Lee on charges of murder and Arthur Patterson on charges of having destroyed evidence. Lee was cleared of his charge while Patterson fled to the United States by exploiting the Korean prosecution's failure to extend his travel ban. This grisly murder case was even made into a movie. Amid growing public accusations, the prosecution launched a full-fledged reinvestigation. In 2011, prosecutors indicted Patterson, who was arrested in the US, on charges of murder and repatriated him back to Korea to stand trial after 16 years. The Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling of a 20-year sentence which is the maximum penalty possible for the defendant who was an adolescent at the time of the crime.

[Soundbite] Lee Bok-soo(Mother of Cho Joong-pil) : "He was a good boy. He died before trying out his dreams. I really hope he can live to his full in the next life."

The victim's family who finally faced the truth after 20 years said they can now unload their deep anguish.