Prosecutors yesterday sought the death sentence or life imprisonment for a man who reportedly confessed to poisoning his former girlfriend, her husband and another couple in an Aboriginal village in Nantou County in July.
The couples died after dining together on July 15. Investigators said the four had a look of pain on their faces and myosis, a condition where the pupil constricts abnormally, which usually follows the consumption of drugs.
Investigators later arrested Chu Ming-fu (朱明福) and on Aug. 22 he reportedly confessed to poisoning his former girlfriend, Wang Mei-yung (王美永), and her husband, Lin Ching-yi (林敬儀).
According to prosecutors, Chu told them he and Wang had dated last year. However, Chu moved to Pingtung County for work and in February, Wang married Lin.
Chu reportedly told prosecutors that he resented the marriage and sought revenge. On June 30 he said he gave Wang six bottles of rice wine, adding that he had poured 10 mililiters of 2-chloroethanol in one of the bottles, prosecutors said.
Police had initially believed the couples died of botulism.
Prosecutors said that 2-chloroethanol is a highly toxic substance that can cause death if even a very small amount is ingested.
Additional reporting by CNA
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