SEOUL, A Seoul court sentenced the suspect in last year's attempted rape and killing of a woman on a hiking trail in Seoul to life in prison Monday, saying he should be separated from society forever. Choi Yun-jong, 30, was indicted on charges of fatally beating, throttling and attempting to rape the victim he randomly picked on a hillside hiking trail in the Sillim neighborhood on Aug. 17. The victim, an elementary school teacher in her 30s, was left unattended for some 20 minutes before being taken to a hospital, but died two days later. The Seoul Central District Court on Monday said the defendant had the intention to kill, saying he is believed to have wrapped his arms around her neck and applied strong pressure for four to six minutes, even though the victim had lost her power to resist. Choi had claimed he had only tried to block the victim's mouth. "There is no way to redeem the damage after an innocent life was lost, and the bereaved families had to go through incurable pain," the court said, hi ghlighting the need to prevent such crimes targeting random women in broad daylight, at a place made for public use, from happening again. The court, however, also pointed out the defendant had lived as a "reclusive loner" for years, and he did not receive timely treatment for depression and a personality disorder. The prosecution had demanded the death penalty for Choi, but the court dismissed the claim, saying a life sentence should be given instead, with the possibility of release on parole limited. Under the current Criminal Act, a convict sentenced to life in prison is eligible for parole after serving 20 years in prison, but the court suggested the correctional facility shut off the possibility for parole, in such a case that has stirred up much public outrage. Source: Yonhap News Agency