Cellmate's testimony adds twist in Hsichih Trio trial

Dramatic new evidence was revealed in the retrial of the "Hsichih Trio" on Thursday.

Su Chien-ho (蘇建和), Liu Bing-lang (劉秉郎) and Chuang Lin-hsun (莊林勳) were all convicted of collaborating in the March 24, 1991 murder of a Hsichih couple and sentenced to death. They initially confessed to the crime but have since adamantly maintained their innocence, saying that their confessions were coerced.

This week their version of events was bolstered by the testimony of Su's former cellmate at the Shihlin jail, Huang Fu-lai (黃福來). Su and Huang shared a cell during the period when Su was first being interrogated by police 10 years ago.

Huang testified that when Su entered their cell after the interrogation session, his lips were bloody and he was unable to stand on his own. Huang had to support Su as he entered the cell, where he immediately lay down. Later, Su needed to urinate but lacked the strength to stand up on his own, Huang said.

Huang testified that he managed to maneuver Su into a position in which he lay not far from the toilet and then he helped him lower his pants to urinate. In the process, Huang said he saw that Su's genitals were badly swollen.

Huang also testified that the day after Su arrived, his girlfriend came to visit him. She wasn't allowed to see him but did manage to pass along a box of candy. When Su received the gift, he asked Huang when he would be allowed to leave. At the time, Huang told him not to be so naive, that as a felon, he would not be released. Huang said Su then cried, saying he had been cheated.