Serial killer victims' families sue for damages

ANSAN, South Korea, Feb. 13 (Yonhap) -- The families of victims killed by confessed serial killer Kang Ho-sun filed suit Friday for combined damages of one billion won ((US$734,000) for emotional trauma and economic difficulties resulting from the victims' deaths.

The 38-year-old Kang was arrested late last month on charges of kidnapping and
murdering a female university student. He later confessed to killing six other
women who went missing between December 2006 and November 2008 in suburban areas
southwest of the capital.
"The families have found themselves in severe mental and physical strain, as well
as economic difficulties, because of the murders by Kang Ho-sun," the petition
signed by 17 family members said.
"We demand that Kang pay a total of 1.04 billion won to compensate for damages
from his act," it said.
The court recently decided to provisionally confiscate Kang's real estate
holdings and a range of financial accounts, worth some 900 million won, at the
request of the victims' families.
"We're also considering on filing a suit against the government if the court
rules on a relatively small amount," Yang Jin-young, the attorney representing
the families, said.
The government and lawmakers have proposed measures aimed at preventing brutal
crimes and strengthening investigation means following Kang's case. The measures
include establishment of a "gene bank" to collect and store DNA samples of
convicts to use in criminal investigations and making suspects' identities
public.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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