Jurors convict man in business partner’s death, dumping body near Moab

By The AP
Saturday, January 26, 2013

DENVER — A Denver businessman accused of killing his business partner and dumping his body near Moab, Utah, has been convicted of second-degree murder.

Joong Rhee also was convicted Friday of first-degree assault on an at-risk adult.

It was his second trial in Denver on charges alleging he killed 64-year-old Hae C. Park in 2010. Rhee’s original trial on charges including first-degree murder ended in a hung jury in September.

Prosecutors said Rhee was in debt and beat Park to death after first filing a deed of trust that said Park would surrender title to vacant land in Utah if Park didn’t pay Rhee $300,000 that he was owed.

Rhee’s lawyer had argued Rhee killed Park in self-defense.