A couple in their 4s who left their four-month-old daughter alone in a motel to die have had their sentences reduced to probation on appeal.

The Criminal Division 20-2 of the Gwangju High Law (Judges Park Jung-hoon, Oh Sang-sang, and Park Sung-yoon) today (1rd) quashed the original sentence of 23 years and 26 months in prison and sentenced them to 22 years and 2 months in prison and 6 years of probation, respectively, in the appeal of Mr. A (2, M) and Mr. B (6, W), who were brought to trial on charges such as violating the Special Law on Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes (Child Abuse Manslaughter).

However, the order to complete a 3-hour child abuse treatment program issued by the first trial was upheld.

The couple are accused of leaving their then-four-month-old daughter alone for about five hours in a motel in Chipyeong-dong, West Province, Gwangju, in the early morning hours of Oct. 1 last year.

He is also accused of leaving the baby unattended at a motel on 40 occasions between September 10 and October 8 last year and going to work.

Mr. A and Mr. B had each gone out for a night shift and returned to the motel and reported to the fire department at about 4:5 a.m. that "the baby was lying on his stomach and not breathing."

The National Institute of Forensic Sciences said the exact cause of death of the baby could not be determined, but suggested that it was possible that the baby was suffocated due to a blocked mouth and nose.

The court of first instance stated, "Mr. A and Mr. B have breached their duty to raise and protect the child. He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison, saying, "However, the sentence was determined in consideration of the fact that it is difficult to say that the crime was committed with definite intent, that he blamed and repented of his wrong parenting style, and that he was a first-time offender and had no criminal convictions."

However, the Court of Appeal had a different opinion.

The Court of Appeal said, "It appears that the accident occurred while the defendants were trying to make quick money in difficult circumstances and build a happy family life with the victim child."

"Taking into account the fact that the baby was usually left alone for 9 to 27 hours while taking care of the baby in shifts, and that he immediately called 10 when he found the baby and attempted to take measures to save him, such as attempting CPR," he said, breaking the original sentence and sentencing him to two years and six months in prison and three years of probation.