Sat, Nov 13, 2010 - Page 1 News List

‘Hsichih Trio’ found not guilty again

CLEARED ONCE MORE:A forensic scientist said in a report it was ‘extremely likely’ a separate culprit acted alone in the murder that took place nearly 20 years ago

By Vincent Y. Chao  /  Staff reporter

A key part of how the verdict was reached “was most likely due to Dr Lee’s forensic report,” he said.

Lee, a prominent forensic scientist in the US, completed his forensic report last year and was called to testify in the case in August this year. Based on his analysis, Lee concluded that the scenario originally laid out by prosecutors was “highly improbable.”

Contradictions in the findings include a lack of bludgeon wounds on the body, a discrepancy in the number of knife wounds and a lack of indicators on Yeh’s body consistent with sexual assault. Based on the confined area and other evidence at the scene, which included only one set of fingerprints and shoe prints, Lee said it was “extremely likely” that Wang was the sole culprit.

Yesterday’s court ruling said that: “After reviewing each point, the court believes that Dr Lee’s forensic report is credible.”

This is the second time that the three have been found not guilty by the courts, but in a signal that the court case could still continue, a representative of the victims’ families said he hoped prosecutors would appeal the latest verdict back to the Supreme Court.

“I have only [one] word to describe this ruling: ‘frustration.’ The views I have held for near 20 years now are that justice and righteousness are asleep,” Wu Min-han’s brother, Wu Tang-chieh (吳唐接), said outside the courtroom.

“We won’t give up, but we don’t know when the injustice suffered by my brother and his wife will become righted,” he added.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY CNA

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