Suspect in child rape case `tried to choke her to death` . SEPTEMBER 03, 2012 03:56. . The suspect in the rape of a 7-year-old girl, who kidnapped her while she was sleeping and raped her, tried to kill her over the fear of being caught, police said Sunday.

The Naju Police Station in South Jeolla Province said Goh Jong-seok attempted to suffocate the girl after raping her under the Yeongsan Bridge. He had kidnapped her in her blanket while she was sleeping at home around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. At 175 centimeters (5-feet-9) tall and weighing 80 kilograms (176 pounds), the suspect tried to choke his victim and she instantly fainted.

“I choked her because I was worried if she could recognize me and report me to police if she was alive,” Goh told police, adding, “She didn`t move after I choked her, so I thought she was dead.”

She awoke after remaining unconscious for a while and crawled about 30 meters from under the bridge around 9:30 a.m. Thursday but fainted again. She was spotted by police who were searching for her at 12:55 p.m. the same day.

Judge Jang Chan-soo of the Gwangju District Court issued an arrest warrant for Goh Sunday for attempted murder.

The victim is being treated at Chonnam National University Hospital in Gwangju and is known to require a second surgery.

A hospital source said, “The girl is reeling from severe mental shock,” adding, “We will announce Monday her treatment, including details of her condition and if she needs surgery again.”