The Supreme Court yesterday upheld a guilty verdict for Kuo Yen-chun (郭彥君), handing down a 12-year jail term for injuring four people in a knife attack at a Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station in July last year.
Kuo was convicted of attempted murder after he stabbed people with a kitchen knife on an escalator at Zhongzheng MRT Station.
The incident caused fear and concern for public safety, coming about one year after Cheng Chieh’s (鄭捷) May 21, 2014 stabbing spree on an MRT train, that left four people dead and injured 23.
Photo: CNA
In the first ruling by Shilin District Court in December last year, Kuo was deemed as attempting to injure the victims, and was convicted on the less serious offense of causing bodily harm, for which he was given a three-year prison term.
In a second ruling by the Taiwan High Court in May, Kuo was convicted for attempted murder and sentenced to 12 years in prison, which his lawyers appealed.
Yesterday’s verdict was final and cannot be appealed.
Investigators said that Kuo, who was unemployed at the time of the incident, planned the attack, as he went to a convenience store to steal a kitchen knife and headed to the MRT station to stab people.
“In carrying out the attack, Kuo showed no regard for human life. He slashed at victims’ upper chest and necks, indicative of his intention to kill,” a Supreme Court statement said. “It was a heinous crime. Kuo’s assault caused fear in society and irreparable damage and psychological trauma to the victims.”
Although evidence indicated that Kuo experienced depression and had exhibited anti-social behavior, due to the severity of his crime, the court decided to hand down a heavy punishment, it said.
The court saw evidence presented by the prosecutors that showed stab wounds on two victims, whose blood vessels were severed and had sustained injuries near vital organs in the upper chest and neck areas, and thereby convicted Kuo on attempted murder charges, the statement said.
Legal experts said the 12-year jail term is a heavy sentence and could have a deterrent effect to prevent random knife attacks.
It is a strong statement by the judiciary to deter people from carrying out copycat attacks on public transportation systems following the publicity Cheng received, they said.
During the investigation, Kuo said he had been out of work for a long time and was “in a bad mood,” so he carried out the attack to vent his frustration.
Police records show that Kuo had been previously convicted for drug use. He was reportedly living in Taipei with his aunt after his parents divorced.
During questioning by police, Kuo allegedly said: “If no one had stopped me, I would have killed everyone there.”
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