Apgujeong Rolls-Royce hit-and-run perp gets 20 years in prison

Social Affairs

Published: 24 Jan. 2024, 13:32

Apgujeong Rolls-Royce hit-and-run perp gets 20 years in prison

Shin Woo-jun, the driver who ran over a 27 year-old woman with his Rolls-Royce while driving under the influence of drugs, gets escorted by the police to the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul on Aug. 11, 2023. [YONHAP]

The 28-year-old assailant involved in the so-called Apgujeong Rolls-Royce hit-and-run case has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The Seoul Central District Court on Wednesday sentenced Shin Woo-jun, who, while driving under the influence of drugs, struck a woman in her 20s on Aug. 2 last year.

Prosecutors had requested a 20-year prison term.

"The defendant claims that he fled the site to seek a doctor's help, but this argument cannot be accepted, considering that he left the accident site without notifying any eyewitnesses and before the ambulance arrived," the court said.

"The defendant also exhibited abnormal behavior by smiling at the victim during his arrest."

Shin was indicted on charges of manslaughter by reckless driving and fleeing the scene.

The court also mentioned Shin's serious offense of disregarding his doctor's advice not to drive under the influence of ketamine and tampering with evidence.

The 27-year-old woman, whom Shin struck near Apgujeong Station in southern Seoul in August, died four months later after being in a coma.

Following her death on Nov. 25, prosecutors changed Shin's indictment to vehicular manslaughter and fleeing the accident site without seeking help from vehicular injuries and fleeing.

The court on Wednesday said Shin required a severe sentence to stop innocent people from being affected by the rising number of drug users in the country.

Police earlier revealed that Shin had received drug injections, including Midazolam and Diazepam, twice on the day of the crime and drove under the influence. He had been twice convicted of drug crimes before the latest incident.

Shin tested positive for seven different types of drugs, including the dissociative anesthetic ketamine, according to a test by the National Forensic Service during the investigation.

Prosecutors on Wednesday also indicted the doctor, in his 40s, who is accused of prescribing drugs for non-medical purposes and sexually assaulting patients.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]