A Marine Corps veteran has been charged with negligent homicide after he allegedly strangled a burglar to death in his home on Saturday night, an act he said yesterday was purely out of self-defense to protect his pregnant wife.
According to police investigations, 47-year-old Chang Jun-chin (張俊卿), who has a criminal record for drug abuse, allegedly broke into a condominium behind the Taipei Veterans General Hospital on Saturday night and stole jewelry and other valuables worth about NT$40,000.
The owner of the condo, Ho Bo-han (何柏翰), 29, who installs and repairs air-conditioning equipment for a living, found Chang hiding in the bathroom after returning home with his pregnant wife.
Utilizing combat skills learned during his time in the military, Ho allegedly pinned Chang to the floor after a two-minute fight, and pressed both hands upon the burglar’s face and throat until police arrived after Ho’s wife called them, police said.
Chang was unconscious when police arrived at the scene and was pronounced dead after being taken to hospital.
Visible signs of strangling were found on his throat, police said.
Ho was released on NT$50,000 bail on Sunday evening after police decided that the incident was primarily a case of self-defense. He is awaiting further inquiries from the court.
Commenting on the case, attorney Lin Jun-feng (林俊峰) said since Ho committed the act in consideration of the safety of his pregnant wife, as well as his own security, there is a good chance that he could receive a sentence of probation.
“Acts of negligent homicide committed through defense of one’s property can lead to a prison sentence of up to two years,” Lin said, adding that cases that involve human lives often lead to public prosecution.
Lin also said that individuals involved often receive deferred prosecution from judges, on the condition that they reach a court settlement with the victim’s family, thus exempting them from further charges.
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