The High Court today reduced the sentence for Chen Po-yan (陳柏諺) for the 2022 murder of a Malaysian student from life imprisonment to 18 years and 10 months.
In the case’s third trial, the court determined that his confession qualified for leniency and a reduced sentence, although the ruling can be appealed.
In the first trial at Shilin District Court, Chen pleaded not guilty and was handed a life sentence, which was upheld in an appeal at the High Court, despite Chen’s later confession of guilt.
Photo: Yang Kuo-wen, Taipei Times
The High Court found that Chen’s confession did not qualify him for a reduced sentence.
Both courts also rejected a request by prosecutors to impose the death sentence.
However, the Supreme Court overturned the High Court’s initial ruling and sent the case back for a retrial at the High Court.
The victim, a Malaysian woman surnamed Chai (蔡), was 24 years old at the time of her death and a student at a Taipei university.
Chen first contacted Chai on Instagram in April 2022, then again on Oct. 3, after which their communication became more frequent.
He subsequently invited her to dinner on Oct. 7, following which he visited her rented accommodation multiple times.
On Oct. 13, Chen demanded Chai repay the NT$99,999 that he had lent her, and when she refused, he strangled and smothered her face with a pillow, causing her to suffocate to death.
Chen then attempted suicide, and as police and firefighters were reviving him, he confessed to the crime.
In the first trial, Chen pleaded not guilty and stated he had killed Chai at her request in a “joint suicide” attempt, requesting to be exempted from punishment.
The court ruled that Chen’s explanation did not contain genuine remorse and that the murder was the result of a monetary dispute.
In the second trial at the High Court in June last year, Chen pleaded guilty and sought a lighter sentence, although his offer of reconciliation with the family was rejected.
During today’s retrial, Chen expressed his love for the victim and stated to the court “I love her” and “I miss her,” asking the court for a second chance.
The retrial found that Chen made a confession and showed remorse, reducing his sentence to 18 years and 10 months.
Following the verdict, Chen smiled and pressed his palms together as he thanked the three judges.
On leaving the courthouse, Chen did not respond to media questions on whether he was pleased with the verdict and if he would appeal.
Lawyers representing Chai's family said they were not satisfied with the court's decision and would notify the prosecutors they would launch an appeal.
Additional reporting by Yang Kuo-wen
Former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) on Monday called for greater cooperation between Taiwan, Lithuania and the EU to counter threats to information security, including attacks on undersea cables and other critical infrastructure. In a speech at Vilnius University in the Lithuanian capital, Tsai highlighted recent incidents in which vital undersea cables — essential for cross-border data transmission — were severed in the Taiwan Strait and the Baltic Sea over the past year. Taiwanese authorities suspect Chinese sabotage in the incidents near Taiwan’s waters, while EU leaders have said Russia is the likely culprit behind similar breaches in the Baltic. “Taiwan and our European
Taiwanese indie band Sunset Rollercoaster and South Korean outfit Hyukoh collectively received the most nominations at this year’s Golden Melody Awards, earning a total of seven nods from the jury on Wednesday. The bands collaborated on their 2024 album AAA, which received nominations for best band, best album producer, best album design and best vocal album recording. “Young Man,” a single from the album, earned nominations for song of the year and best music video, while another track, “Antenna,” also received a best music video nomination. Late Hong Kong-American singer Khalil Fong (方大同) was named the jury award winner for his 2024 album
Hong Kong singer Eason Chan’s (陳奕迅) concerts in Kaohsiung this weekend have been postponed after he was diagnosed with Covid-19 this morning, the organizer said today. Chan’s “FEAR and DREAMS” concert which was scheduled to be held in the coming three days at the Kaohsiung Arena would be rescheduled to May 29, 30 and 31, while the three shows scheduled over the next weekend, from May 23 to 25, would be held as usual, Universal Music said in a statement. Ticket holders can apply for a full refund or attend the postponed concerts with the same seating, the organizer said. Refund arrangements would
The Taipei District Court sentenced babysitters Liu Tsai-hsuan (劉彩萱) and Liu Jou-lin (劉若琳) to life and 18 years in prison respectively today for causing the death of a one-year-old boy in December 2023. The Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office said that Liu Tsai-hsuan was entrusted with the care of a one-year-old boy, nicknamed Kai Kai (剴剴), in August 2023 by the Child Welfare League Foundation. From Sept. 1 to Dec. 23 that year, she and her sister Liu Jou-lin allegedly committed acts of abuse against the boy, who was rushed to the hospital with severe injuries on Dec. 24, 2023, but did not
RSS