Trial Verdict for Korean-American woman
A 54-year-old Korean-American woman named Youngmi Shin has been found guilty of second-degree murder by a Pierce County jury in Washington state, after she fatally stabbed her husband following years of alleged domestic abuse.
According to The News Tribune, the jury delivered the verdict on September 14, rejecting her claims of self-defense. Shin’s case had previously sparked a local community clemency movement due to the revealed history of domestic violence.
Self-Defense Claim Rejected in Court
The incident occurred on the night before Thanksgiving in 2024 at their Parkland home, where Shin stabbed 62-year-old Jay Choi. Prosecutors argued that Shin attacked her husband in the back while he was calling 911 during a dispute over a potential divorce. Conversely, Shin testified that she grabbed a knife only after Choi grabbed her hair and continued to physically assault her.
While the jury acquitted Shin of intentional second-degree murder, they convicted her on the charge of causing a death while committing or attempting an assault. Her defense team immediately requested an acquittal citing insufficient evidence, but the judge rejected the motion, ruling there was ample evidence to dismiss the self-defense claim.
Upcoming Sentencing and Case Background
Shin has been held in custody under a $1 million bail for approximately two years while awaiting trial. Her official sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for October 16.
