Gwinnett County prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for a man accused of stabbing his employers to death in July.
Ki Song Kim, 45, is charged with multiple counts of murder, felony murder — causing a person's death by committing a felony — aggravated assault, aggravated battery and possession of a knife during the commission of a felony in the brutal slaying of Young Chan Choi and his wife Sun Hee Choi.
The couple owned Norcross restaurant supply company Best Supply where Kim worked, authorities said.
Prosecutors and police allege that Kim stabbed Young Chan Choi on July 27 in an attempt to rob the couple at their Duluth-area home on Worrall Hill Way, then slashed Sun Hee Choi’s neck.
Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter filed the death penalty request on Tuesday. A trial date has not been set for Kim.
“The offense of murder … was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman in that it involved torture to the victim(s),” Porter said in the documents seeking the death penalty filed with the Gwinnett County Superior Court and obtained by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
According to Georgia law, prosecutors can seek the death penalty if there are aggravating circumstances, such as a murder being committed following the commission of another capitol offense (murder) or after the commission of another violent felony such as aggravated assault.
State law also allows for the death penalty in cases where the murder is considered especially atrocious, cruel or depraved.
Kim remains in the Gwinnett County Detention Center without bond, according to jail and court records.
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