The mother of a four-year-old girl who was decapitated in an apparently random attack in Taipei’s Neihu District (內湖) on Monday has urged the public to donate money to needy charitable organizations instead of her family.
Flowers, toys, gifts and messages were left on a sidewalk near the Xihu Elementary School in Neihu District, close to where the toddler — nicknamed Xiao Deng Pao (小燈泡, little lightbulb) — was killed.
The girl’s mother, who has identified only as Clair Wang, said that a mourning hall for her daughter has been set up near the Taipei City No. 1 Funeral Parlor on Minquan E Road, and called on people to visit and write condolence messages on prepared cards.
Photo: Chang Chia-ming, Taipei Times
She also called on the public to leave their hatred behind them, urging an end to attacks between people with different opinions on capital punishment and criminal justice issues.
She also said that she does not support any organization that tries to use the case and her daughter’s name for its own agenda.
Meanwhile, political commentators and government officials condemned the Taipei Police Department for releasing information from a preliminary investigation that said Wang Ching-yu (王景玉), the suspect in the brutal killing, had a history of mental illness and had exhibited eccentric behavior for some time.
Political commentator Wang Rui-de (王瑞德) said it is the job of prosecutors and other judicial agencies to consider all evidence and witness testimonies to determine if cases should be prosecuted and if a suspect is fit to stand trial.
“The police officials pronounced that Wang [Ching-yu] clearly has a mental disorder, but they based it only on sketchy evidence, a few interviews with Wang [Ching-yu’s] family and some neighbors, while the investigation is still in an early phase,” Wang Rui-de said. “These officials are taking over the judicial duties of prosecutors and judges. They are subverting the due process of law.”
The issue was raised when police released the details of a preliminary investigation on Tuesday, one day after the girl’s killing, which said Wang [Ching-yu] had a history of mental health issues. It also seemed to blame random knife attacks on the nation’s health system and called for better monitoring and follow-up treatment of mental health patients.
Separately, judicial officials yesterday said that Wang Ching-yu was punched at the Taipei Detention Center where he was being held, but added that he was not injured.
He was reportedly attacked by two other detainees who were sent to a cell to repair the floor.
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