Manโ to be Sentenced in December forโ Murders of Sydney Couple
SYDNEY – A New South โคWales Supreme Court hearing revealed the devastating โขimpact of the murders of โSteven and โMin Cho,โ with โคfamily โmembers stating their lives were “utterly destroyed” by the crimes. The courtโค is preparing to sentence Sang Yun Yoo for the deaths of the couple, found at their Baulkhamโ Hillsโ home in September.
The court heard Yoo’s motive remained unclear, with โฃpsychiatristโข Dr. Ellis stating Yoo displayed “very limited” insight into his actions and anโ inabilityโข to articulate a coherent reason for the killings. Dr. Ellis noted Yoo’s lies were “psychiatrically โฃunusual”โ due to their โคeasily disprovable nature, characterizing them as “an immature way of managing your own self-image.” While Yoo visited the Cho property multiple timesโ prior to the murders, Dr. Ellis accepted the intention to kill may have โformed two or three weeks beforehand.
Prosecutor Kate Ratcliffe arguedโ for a โlife sentence, stating it was the appropriate penalty. โคDefense counsel richard โคJ Wilson SC disputed this, challenging the Crown’s suggestion that Yoo was driven by “jealousy and hatred” and describing theโฃ case as “somewhat of a mystery,” โquestioning how a previously โwell-respected man could commit such acts.
Prior to being taken to a mental health unit โin custody, Yoo reportedly expressed remorse, stating, “Everything I’ve done โฆ I feel โshame, guilt, sorrow.”
Justice Harrison willโค deliver โคYoo’s โขsentenceโฃ on December 16.