The teen suspect on trial for the murder of an 8-year-old girl in Incheon described herself as “going on the hunt,” it was revealed Thursday.

The defendant, a 17-year-old high school dropout, is accused of luring and murdering an elementary student at her home in Incheon on March 29. She strangled the victim and dismembered her body. She then handed over a part of the victim’s remains to an accomplice, aged 19, who disposed of the remains.

The defendant has confessed to the crime, but claims that she was influenced by psychological conditions and that the crime was not premeditated. The suspect is said to be suffering from Asperger’s syndrome.

The prosecution, however, claims that the defendant appears to have followed a carefully laid out plan.

According to the prosecution, the suspect left her apartment building using an entrance that did not lead to her home. In addition, she wore sunglasses and used an umbrella to appear as an adult. Later, she changed into her pajamas before taking out the trash after the murder, in order to appear as though she had remained at home until that point.

It was also revealed that the defendant, whose identity is withheld, messaged an accomplice saying “(I am) going on the hunt,” before murdering the victim.

The defendant messaged the accomplice again after the act, saying, “(I have) returned home. The situation was good.” The accomplice, whose identity is also withheld, replied “(Is the victim) alive? Are the fingers pretty?” to which the defendant replied that the victim’s fingers were pretty.

The defendant’s attorney, however, claims that she did bring the victim to her home, but the murder was not premeditated. According to the defense team, the victim appeared to abuse the defendant’s cat, which prompted the defendant to attack the child.

By Choi He-suk (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)