The police initially accused the man of foul play, but later changed the case to that of manslaughter by gross negligence.

The police said it had discovered through investigation that the man and his wife had attempted to destroy evidence of his wrongdoings by using a washing machine to clean the baby’s clothes which had blood on them.

The couple had also run an online search on “how to fabricate a medical diagnosis,” to cover up the baby’s death.

The Incheon Prosecutor’s Office said the man will be put on trial under charges of murder and child abuse, while the wife will be tried for habitual child abandonment and neglect.

Prior to her death, the young father confessed to having slapped and clawed her multiple times for “not eating powdered milk and non-stop crying.”

He had also forcefully pulled her arm to “straighten” it, an act which dislocated the baby’s arm.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)