New details on alleged taekwondo murders
The taekwondo instructor accused of a horrific triple murder in Sydney’s west will remain in jail on remand after being charged from his hospital bed.
Kwang Kyung Yoo, 49, appeared in court for the first time on Thursday after being charged with the murders of Min “Sue” Cho, 41, and a seven-year-old child at North Parramatta and the woman’s husband, Hyun Soo “Steven” Cho, 39, at a Baulkham Hills home.
It’s alleged Ms Cho and the child were murdered at the Lion’s Taekwondo Studio, with court documents alleging the child was killed sometime between 8pm and 10.59pm, and Ms Cho between 6.20pm and 10.59pm on Monday.
Police have alleged Mr Yoo, who was known to his students as Master Lion, left the bodies inside his studio before driving Ms Cho’s white BMW to her Baulkham Hills house.
Police will allege the 49-year-old confronted the dead woman’s husband, Mr Cho, and stabbed him several times.
According to court documents, it’s alleged Mr Cho was killed sometime between 9pm and 10.59pm.
NSW Police found Mr Cho’s body at the Watkins Rd home at about 10.30am on Tuesday, prompting an urgent investigation which led to the discovery of the bodies of his wife and the child two hours later.
Police have alleged that Mr Yoo drove to Westmead Hospital with stab wounds to his chest, arms and stomach, and claimed he was randomly attacked in a supermarket car park.
But police will allege he sustained the injuries while stabbing Mr Cho to death.
Mr Yoo remains under police guard in Westmead Hospital, where he is being treated for his injuries.
At Parramatta Local Court on Thursday, Mr Yoo did not apply for bail when his matter was mentioned before Magistrate Kate Thompson.
He did not appear on screen when the matter was called.
He was formally refused bail and will remain in custody on remand before returning to court in April.
Earlier, Homicide Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty described the deaths as a tragedy.
“It’s not only tragic in circumstances but the consequences were cataclysmic,” he said.
“They’ve had their lives taken away in what we allege was a murder.”
