Two dead after killing spree on fishing vessel

A Taiwan fishing vessel that reported two murders in waters near the Marshall Islands last month returned to Suao, northeastern Taiwan, yesterday under the escort of a patrol boat of the Coast Guard Administration.

Lee Wang-tsung (李旺欉), the captain of the Suao-registered Chuan Fa Sheng No. 136, was allegedly murdered by a Chinese fisherman aboard his boat, along with a member of his crew.

The vessel sailed out of Suao in late July for fishing operations in the Pacific. Lee's son, Lee Chung-ping (李忠儐), was the first engineer of the ship. There were also seven Chinese and two Vietnamese fishing crew members.

On Aug. 12, Suao fishing authorities were alerted by a someone aboard the vessel that Chinese crew member Zhou Hongyi (周宏裕) had murdered the captain and a Chinese fishing crew member by the name of Yang Caigeng (楊才根). Lee Chung-ping was also suffered severe cut to his hands and back. The suspect jumped overboard after the murders.

The coast guard sent a patrol boat to escort the fishing vessel back to port for further investigation.

The two bodies were put in ice for preservation.

A Chinese crew member surnamed Lai said that Zhou tried to kill everyone on board after he had killed the captain and crew mate, and that he had to defend himself against a knife-wielding Zhou with a stick.

Before jumping overboard, Zhou said that he didn't feel right inside and didn't want to go back to China, according to Lai.

Coast officials said that initial questioning of the crew members showed that Zhou was probably homesick after his first sea-faring trip and asked the captain to sail back so that he could return to China.

After the captain refused, he allegedly became angry and started the killing.