South Korea holds its first-ever trial by jury as part of judiciary reforms

South Korea held its first-ever trial by jury Tuesday as part of reform measures aimed at promoting confidence in the judicial system.

A nine-member jury at the district court in Daegu, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) southeast of Seoul, heard the case of a 27-year-old man accused of assaulting a 70-year-old woman while trying to rob her house, said court spokesman Eum Jong-kyu.

By South Korean law, the findings of jury are nonbinding, with the final verdict still resting in the hands of a judge as in the past. Juries will be used at the request of defendants in some criminal cases.

"Still, the introduction of a jury will enhance the people's confidence in court verdicts in our country," Eum said.

After hours of deliberation, most jurors recommended a suspended jail sentence of two to four years for the defendant, only identified by his family name, Lee.

Judge Yoon Jong-ku eventually announced a suspended sentence of four years, Eum said.

"The judge concluded the jury's decision was logical," Eum said.

An attorney for Lee asked the judge for mercy, saying the defendant took the injured woman to a hospital and turned himself in to police, according to Yonhap news agency. The prosecution had sought a five-year prison term, the report said.

The nine jurors and three alternates were randomly selected from 230 local residents.