
Taekwondo instructor admits to shocking triple murder
A taekwondo instructor has admitted to a shocking triple murder in Sydney's west in which he killed a couple and a seven-year-old child.
Kwang Kyung Yoo on Thursday pleaded guilty to three counts of murder when he appeared in the Parramatta Local Court.
He admitted to murdering Min Cho, 41, and a seven-year-old child at a North Parramatta taekwondo studio, as well as Ms Cho's husband, Steven Cho, 39, at a Baulkham Hills home on February 19 last year.
The North Kellyville man has been in custody since he was arrested in hospital and will now face sentencing proceedings in the NSW Supreme Court.
Ms Cho and the child were killed inside the taekwondo studio where the boy was a student.
Yoo, who was known to his students as Master Lion, left the bodies inside the studio before driving Ms Cho's white BMW to her Baulkham Hills home, where Mr Cho was stabbed several times.
NSW Police found Mr Cho's body at the Watkins Rd, Baulkham Hills address before the bodies of his wife and the child were discovered by police two hours later.
Yoo drove to Westmead Hospital with stab wounds to his chest, arms and stomach and claimed he was randomly attacked in a Woolworths carpark.
However he sustained the injuries while stabbing Mr Cho to death.
He will now appear in the Supreme Court in August before he is sentenced at a later date.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Advertiser
10 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Murder or mistake? Trial opens over teen shooting death
The fate of two people accused of murdering a teenager during a car chase rests on the reasons for firing a shotgun. John Paul Evans, 57, and his son Keith Evans, 31, are accused of murdering Jesse Thompson during a pursuit through the streets of Wyong on the NSW Central Coast in 2017. The pair were in a dual-cab ute with a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when a shotgun was discharged in the hands of Keith Evans. Mr Thompson was sitting in the back seat of a Toyota Kluger, the second car involved in the pursuit, when he was hit by the shot. The 19-year-old died soon after as a result of his injuries. Events preceding Mr Thompson's death were revealed as agreed facts during the NSW Supreme Court trial opening on Thursday. In the days leading up to his death, Keith Evans assaulted one of Mr Thompson's friends, Jayke Rodgers, putting him in hospital. On the day of the alleged murder, Mr Rodgers and some of his friends retaliated by smashing a glass door at the Evans' family home. They later met with more friends at a local park and got into the Kluger, with Mr Thompson in the back seat, and became involved in a car pursuit with the Evans' ute. But the details of the car chase, including who brought the gun, remains in dispute. One of the key issues in the trial is whether Keith Evans intended to fire the shotgun. "The heart of this dispute is about the discharge of that firearm and whether it was accidental," his barrister Michelle Fernando said. Her client did not intend to fire the gun or harm Mr Thompson, Ms Fernando told the jury. "Keith Evans is here not because he's committed a crime," she said. "He's here because the Crown alleges he has committed the crime of murder." John Evans' barrister, John Stratton SC, told the jury his client was not aware of the altercation between his son and Mr Rodger's group of friends. "It is his belief that the shot which killed the deceased was the result of a terrible accident," he said. Mr Stratton said John Evans maintained he picked up the gun after one of the men from the Kluger dropped the weapon. Crown prosecutor Adrian Robertson told the jury John Evans has given evidence he knew about the smashed door at their family home. Throughout the trial, occupants of the Kluger would tell the jury they saw Keith Evans point the gun at their vehicle, Mr Roberston said. The jury would hear evidence Keith Evans first pointed the shotgun at the front of the vehicle, before shifting it to fire through the open back window, he said. Mr Robertson said the Crown must prove he deliberately fired at Mr Thompson. "An intentional act, rather than an accidental one," he said. "And of course, that there was no lawful excuse for such a thing." The trial continues on Friday. The fate of two people accused of murdering a teenager during a car chase rests on the reasons for firing a shotgun. John Paul Evans, 57, and his son Keith Evans, 31, are accused of murdering Jesse Thompson during a pursuit through the streets of Wyong on the NSW Central Coast in 2017. The pair were in a dual-cab ute with a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when a shotgun was discharged in the hands of Keith Evans. Mr Thompson was sitting in the back seat of a Toyota Kluger, the second car involved in the pursuit, when he was hit by the shot. The 19-year-old died soon after as a result of his injuries. Events preceding Mr Thompson's death were revealed as agreed facts during the NSW Supreme Court trial opening on Thursday. In the days leading up to his death, Keith Evans assaulted one of Mr Thompson's friends, Jayke Rodgers, putting him in hospital. On the day of the alleged murder, Mr Rodgers and some of his friends retaliated by smashing a glass door at the Evans' family home. They later met with more friends at a local park and got into the Kluger, with Mr Thompson in the back seat, and became involved in a car pursuit with the Evans' ute. But the details of the car chase, including who brought the gun, remains in dispute. One of the key issues in the trial is whether Keith Evans intended to fire the shotgun. "The heart of this dispute is about the discharge of that firearm and whether it was accidental," his barrister Michelle Fernando said. Her client did not intend to fire the gun or harm Mr Thompson, Ms Fernando told the jury. "Keith Evans is here not because he's committed a crime," she said. "He's here because the Crown alleges he has committed the crime of murder." John Evans' barrister, John Stratton SC, told the jury his client was not aware of the altercation between his son and Mr Rodger's group of friends. "It is his belief that the shot which killed the deceased was the result of a terrible accident," he said. Mr Stratton said John Evans maintained he picked up the gun after one of the men from the Kluger dropped the weapon. Crown prosecutor Adrian Robertson told the jury John Evans has given evidence he knew about the smashed door at their family home. Throughout the trial, occupants of the Kluger would tell the jury they saw Keith Evans point the gun at their vehicle, Mr Roberston said. The jury would hear evidence Keith Evans first pointed the shotgun at the front of the vehicle, before shifting it to fire through the open back window, he said. Mr Robertson said the Crown must prove he deliberately fired at Mr Thompson. "An intentional act, rather than an accidental one," he said. "And of course, that there was no lawful excuse for such a thing." The trial continues on Friday. The fate of two people accused of murdering a teenager during a car chase rests on the reasons for firing a shotgun. John Paul Evans, 57, and his son Keith Evans, 31, are accused of murdering Jesse Thompson during a pursuit through the streets of Wyong on the NSW Central Coast in 2017. The pair were in a dual-cab ute with a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when a shotgun was discharged in the hands of Keith Evans. Mr Thompson was sitting in the back seat of a Toyota Kluger, the second car involved in the pursuit, when he was hit by the shot. The 19-year-old died soon after as a result of his injuries. Events preceding Mr Thompson's death were revealed as agreed facts during the NSW Supreme Court trial opening on Thursday. In the days leading up to his death, Keith Evans assaulted one of Mr Thompson's friends, Jayke Rodgers, putting him in hospital. On the day of the alleged murder, Mr Rodgers and some of his friends retaliated by smashing a glass door at the Evans' family home. They later met with more friends at a local park and got into the Kluger, with Mr Thompson in the back seat, and became involved in a car pursuit with the Evans' ute. But the details of the car chase, including who brought the gun, remains in dispute. One of the key issues in the trial is whether Keith Evans intended to fire the shotgun. "The heart of this dispute is about the discharge of that firearm and whether it was accidental," his barrister Michelle Fernando said. Her client did not intend to fire the gun or harm Mr Thompson, Ms Fernando told the jury. "Keith Evans is here not because he's committed a crime," she said. "He's here because the Crown alleges he has committed the crime of murder." John Evans' barrister, John Stratton SC, told the jury his client was not aware of the altercation between his son and Mr Rodger's group of friends. "It is his belief that the shot which killed the deceased was the result of a terrible accident," he said. Mr Stratton said John Evans maintained he picked up the gun after one of the men from the Kluger dropped the weapon. Crown prosecutor Adrian Robertson told the jury John Evans has given evidence he knew about the smashed door at their family home. Throughout the trial, occupants of the Kluger would tell the jury they saw Keith Evans point the gun at their vehicle, Mr Roberston said. The jury would hear evidence Keith Evans first pointed the shotgun at the front of the vehicle, before shifting it to fire through the open back window, he said. Mr Robertson said the Crown must prove he deliberately fired at Mr Thompson. "An intentional act, rather than an accidental one," he said. "And of course, that there was no lawful excuse for such a thing." The trial continues on Friday. The fate of two people accused of murdering a teenager during a car chase rests on the reasons for firing a shotgun. John Paul Evans, 57, and his son Keith Evans, 31, are accused of murdering Jesse Thompson during a pursuit through the streets of Wyong on the NSW Central Coast in 2017. The pair were in a dual-cab ute with a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when a shotgun was discharged in the hands of Keith Evans. Mr Thompson was sitting in the back seat of a Toyota Kluger, the second car involved in the pursuit, when he was hit by the shot. The 19-year-old died soon after as a result of his injuries. Events preceding Mr Thompson's death were revealed as agreed facts during the NSW Supreme Court trial opening on Thursday. In the days leading up to his death, Keith Evans assaulted one of Mr Thompson's friends, Jayke Rodgers, putting him in hospital. On the day of the alleged murder, Mr Rodgers and some of his friends retaliated by smashing a glass door at the Evans' family home. They later met with more friends at a local park and got into the Kluger, with Mr Thompson in the back seat, and became involved in a car pursuit with the Evans' ute. But the details of the car chase, including who brought the gun, remains in dispute. One of the key issues in the trial is whether Keith Evans intended to fire the shotgun. "The heart of this dispute is about the discharge of that firearm and whether it was accidental," his barrister Michelle Fernando said. Her client did not intend to fire the gun or harm Mr Thompson, Ms Fernando told the jury. "Keith Evans is here not because he's committed a crime," she said. "He's here because the Crown alleges he has committed the crime of murder." John Evans' barrister, John Stratton SC, told the jury his client was not aware of the altercation between his son and Mr Rodger's group of friends. "It is his belief that the shot which killed the deceased was the result of a terrible accident," he said. Mr Stratton said John Evans maintained he picked up the gun after one of the men from the Kluger dropped the weapon. Crown prosecutor Adrian Robertson told the jury John Evans has given evidence he knew about the smashed door at their family home. Throughout the trial, occupants of the Kluger would tell the jury they saw Keith Evans point the gun at their vehicle, Mr Roberston said. The jury would hear evidence Keith Evans first pointed the shotgun at the front of the vehicle, before shifting it to fire through the open back window, he said. Mr Robertson said the Crown must prove he deliberately fired at Mr Thompson. "An intentional act, rather than an accidental one," he said. "And of course, that there was no lawful excuse for such a thing." The trial continues on Friday.


Perth Now
13 hours ago
- Perth Now
Murder or mistake? Trial opens over teen shooting death
The fate of two people accused of murdering a teenager during a car chase rests on the reasons for firing a shotgun. John Paul Evans, 57, and his son Keith Evans, 31, are accused of murdering Jesse Thompson during a pursuit through the streets of Wyong on the NSW Central Coast in 2017. The pair were in a dual-cab ute with a woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, when a shotgun was discharged in the hands of Keith Evans. Mr Thompson was sitting in the back seat of a Toyota Kluger, the second car involved in the pursuit, when he was hit by the shot. The 19-year-old died soon after as a result of his injuries. Events preceding Mr Thompson's death were revealed as agreed facts during the NSW Supreme Court trial opening on Thursday. In the days leading up to his death, Keith Evans assaulted one of Mr Thompson's friends, Jayke Rodgers, putting him in hospital. On the day of the alleged murder, Mr Rodgers and some of his friends retaliated by smashing a glass door at the Evans' family home. They later met with more friends at a local park and got into the Kluger, with Mr Thompson in the back seat, and became involved in a car pursuit with the Evans' ute. But the details of the car chase, including who brought the gun, remains in dispute. One of the key issues in the trial is whether Keith Evans intended to fire the shotgun. "The heart of this dispute is about the discharge of that firearm and whether it was accidental," his barrister Michelle Fernando said. Her client did not intend to fire the gun or harm Mr Thompson, Ms Fernando told the jury. "Keith Evans is here not because he's committed a crime," she said. "He's here because the Crown alleges he has committed the crime of murder." John Evans' barrister, John Stratton SC, told the jury his client was not aware of the altercation between his son and Mr Rodger's group of friends. "It is his belief that the shot which killed the deceased was the result of a terrible accident," he said. Mr Stratton said John Evans maintained he picked up the gun after one of the men from the Kluger dropped the weapon. Crown prosecutor Adrian Robertson told the jury John Evans has given evidence he knew about the smashed door at their family home. Throughout the trial, occupants of the Kluger would tell the jury they saw Keith Evans point the gun at their vehicle, Mr Roberston said. The jury would hear evidence Keith Evans first pointed the shotgun at the front of the vehicle, before shifting it to fire through the open back window, he said. Mr Robertson said the Crown must prove he deliberately fired at Mr Thompson. "An intentional act, rather than an accidental one," he said. "And of course, that there was no lawful excuse for such a thing." The trial continues on Friday.


7NEWS
19 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Man accused of using AI images of women for sextortion
A man accused of threatening to post AI-manipulated images online in the sextortion of three women has appeared in court for the first time. Benjamin Michael Jomaa is accused of sending sexual material to the women without their consent on Facebook messenger and threatening to distribute AI-manipulated images of them online. The 31-year-old allegedly demanded to be sent more intimate pictures and encouraged one of the women to participate in a sexual act without her consent. Sexual extortion or 'sextortion' is a form of blackmail where a person threatens to share a nude or sexual image or video unless their victim gives in to their demands. Police searched Jomaa's home on May 28 at Ettalong Beach on the NSW Central Coast and seized several electronic devices. He was arrested and charged with 13 offences. The three women, all aged in their 20s, were allegedly abused by Jomaa online between October 2024 and April 2025. Jomaa was granted bail after the arrest. He appeared briefly in Gosford Local Court for the first time on Wednesday, represented by his lawyer Jessica Tohi. Supported by two people, Jomaa walked out of the court building hidden underneath a coat. He has been excused from attending court when the matter returns in two weeks and will remain on bail.