Victim's Family of Itaewon Burger King Murder Wins Settlement from Korean Government
|Here is another reason why criminals shouldn’t fear the South Korean justice system:
A Seoul court has ordered that the South Korean government pay about $34,000 to the family of a murdered university student because local prosecutors mistakenly allowed an American suspect to return home, according to court officials.
The decision from early this week ends a seven-year fight from the victim’s family, who was outraged that South Korean officials failed to stop Arthur Patterson, one of the two suspects in the case, from leaving South Korea, according to a family spokesman.
(…)
In April 1997, Cho Chong-pil was stabbed to death in a Burger King restroom in Itaewon. Investigators and experts at the time said the stabbing appeared to be random and similar to an American gang-style killing. Two American teens, Patterson and Eddie Lee, were charged in the case.
Patterson, the dependent of a contract worker for U.S. Forces Korea, was charged with possessing a deadly weapon and destroying evidence. He was convicted and sentenced to 18 months. Lee, who had no direct connection to USFK, was charged with murder and sentenced to life in prison. A higher court, however, reduced that sentence to 20 years and ultimately acquitted Lee for lack of evidence after he had served 18 months.
Patterson also was released early from prison in 1998, in the annual Aug. 15 liberation day amnesty granted by the South Korean government to some 2,000 convicts. Prosecutors promised to pursue the case and perhaps file a harsher charge against Patterson. Yet after his release from prison, he was allowed to leave South Korea, the court’s ruling this week admitted.
Amazing someone originally convicted of a brutal murder and sentenced for 20 years is later released while his accomplice is later released as well by a special pardon.
For those not familiar with Burger King murder case here is a quick recap of the murder:
On April 3, 1997, Joong Pil and his steady girlfriend Jung Eun were on their way to her home in Itaewon after studying at the Kook Ki Won Library. They stopped to use the restroom at the fast food restaurant. Jung Eun went to order soft drinks and Joong Pil went into the restroom.
The motive for the murder was that Lee killed the victim just for fun. After killing Cho, Lee went back to the table and hung out again with Patterson like nothing had happened while Cho slowly bled to death in the restroom. Similar to the Penich murder case another cold blooded murderer was allowed to go free. Now both these punks are running around free in America instead of rotting in jail where they can’t kill anyone else just for fun.
[…] Dong-A Ilbo ran an exclusive interview with Edward Lee, one of the two men who were tried for the brutal 1997 slaying of Cho Chong-pil in a bathroom in the old Itaewon Burger […]
Since Patterson is free, and so is Edward, was there anymore from them? Like jail records? It was a very cold hearted case, having both men blaming on each other. So who is the actual killer? From what I’m understanding from you, is that both of them killed him. Was there a true reason behind this that those two liars confessed?
i think it was the fat guy who killed the guy in berber king.,….why is everyone dying in berber king …now it makes me wanna dye in berberking
My pleasure, Maxine.
If you will kindly tell me which “berber king” or “berberking” to meet you at, I will help you dye.
Hair or clothing?
ChickenHead, look for Maxine in Tunisia.
So how is it possible that when we have Korea sending back to America, Korean criminals who committed crimes in America, to face trial in the US, but yet America doesn’t reciprocate?
Korean in America extradited to Korea.
http://articles.latimes.com/2007/nov/16/local/me-kim16
American in America extradited to Korea.
http://www.post-gazette.com/localnews/20021012sniderreg6p7.asp
Tom being wrong again: Priceless.
It is quite obvious that justice went unserved and the family of the victim will mourn forever. Cash payment will not take away the hurt and sorrow for their lost. Be encouraged and I hope in time the hurt will lessen and the memories of your love one will allow you to go on with your lives. God Bless!!
#7 Actually he’s always wrong. A good measure of how to determine the correct course on any issue is to take the opposite side of Tom.
So I’m wrong huh? So where’s Patterson the killer? I don’t see him extradited. Why do you protect him?
It takes time to extradite.
It takes time? You said that last year! I’m sure it’s going to take time. Like never!
Go read the latest update. 🙄
Yap. Know of this case when I watch d movie & has been checking on d updates but seems to be dragging forever. Is it going to take another 10 to 20 hrs for this to drag on or until Patterson dies (of old age perhaps).
Sigh……….tragic………
[…] Dong-A Ilbo ran an exclusive interview with Edward Lee, one of the two men who were tried for the brutal 1997 slaying of Cho Chong-pil in a bathroom in the old Itaewon Burger […]
[…] Dong-A Ilbo ran an exclusive interview with Edward Lee, one of the two men who were tried for the brutal 1997 slaying of Cho Chong-pil in a bathroom in the old Itaewon Burger […]
[…] Dong-A Ilbo ran an exclusive interview with Edward Lee, one of the two men who were tried for the brutal 1997 slaying of Cho Chong-pil in a bathroom in the old Itaewon Burger […]