**Police: “Health Improved… Soon Applying for an Arrest Warrant”**
Focusing on Preplanned Crime and Additional Offenses
“Decision on Disclosing Suspect’s Identity Also to Be Made”
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A female teacher, hospitalized after committing self-harm following the murder of elementary school student Kim Ha-neul (8) last month, was arrested by the police on the morning of the 7th. This occurred 25 days after the incident.
The dedicated investigation team of Daejeon Seobu Police Station announced that they executed an arrest warrant against the suspect, a woman in her 40s identified as Ms. A, at 9:49 AM. Police have begun a face-to-face interrogation with Ms. A.
Ms. A is accused of fatally stabbing Kim in an audiovisual room at an elementary school in Seo-gu, Daejeon, on the 10th of last month. After the murder, Ms. A self-harmed and received treatment in the ICU of a university hospital in Daejeon. Police assessed that her health condition had improved, allowing for the removal of her oxygen support, and executed the arrest warrant in consultation with medical staff.
The police plan to determine the motive behind the crime, trace Ms. A’s movements on the day of the incident, and investigate whether the crime was premeditated as well as the possibility of additional crimes. With Ms. A’s recovery awaited, they have already completed the analysis of evidence obtained through search and seizure, as well as interviews with witnesses, leaving only the confirmation of facts.
The police aim to conclude the face-to-face investigation with Ms. A and apply for an arrest warrant as early as this afternoon or at the latest by the 8th. A decision regarding the convening of a deliberation committee for the disclosure of the suspect’s identity will also be made soon. A police spokesperson stated, “Following medical opinion that the suspect’s health has sufficiently recovered for questioning, we immediately executed the arrest warrant and began the investigation,” adding that they will thoroughly uncover the details of the incident, the motive, and any additional circumstances.