SEOUL, Dec. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- A South Korean serial killer charged of killing 21 people was sentenced to death by local court on Monday.

    Seoul Central District Court found Yoo Young-chul guilty of murdering 20 people, mostly prostitutes and rich older men, in one of the country's worst murder cases, South Korean national news agency Yonhap reported.

    The court dropped criminal charges related to one murder and one theft, citing lack of evidence.

    The 34-year-old Yoo was first arrested on July 15 on suspicion of confining and assaulting a masseuse, but he managed to escape police custody while faking an epileptic seizure. He was arrested again the next day and confessed to the astonishing killings.

    "Murders of as many as 20 people are unprecedented in the nation and a very serious crime," said the court. "The death penalty is inevitable for Yoo in light of the enormous pains inflicted on the families concerned and the entire society."

    It is not known yet whether Yoo plans to appeal to the high court.

    Yoo was convicted of mutilating at least 11 bodies of his victims and burning three others.

    On Nov. 29, state prosecutors demanded death punishment for Yoo,saying he killed innocent people without any reason and was showing no remorse for his crimes. Enditem