The Taichung branch of the High Court today handed down a reduced prison sentence of nine years and nine months to 20-year-old Hung Ching (洪淨), who was found guilty of stabbing two passengers on the Taichung MRT on May 21 last year.
The verdict can be appealed to the Supreme Court.
The first trial in the case was held in December last year at the Taichung District Court, issuing Hung a 10-year prison sentence for attempted murder and endangering public safety.
Photo: CNA
The nursing student carried three knives, pulling one in a random attack on an MRT carriage, and stabbing and injuring one passenger before being subdued by another, investigators said.
A 27-year-old man named Hsu Jui-hsien (許瑞顯) charged Hung and tackled him to the ground, sustaining a 15cm gash from his cheek to his jaw and wounds on his fingers.
A 17-year-old high-school student surnamed Lu (呂) also received lacerations to his chest, shoulder and arm.
Hung appealed after the first trial and in the second issued an apology and compensation to Lu, earning him a three-month reduction in his sentence.
He had offered compensation to Hsu in the first trial.
In the High Court’s final hearing on March 27, Hung dropped to his knees in front of Lu before court officers stopped him.
Hung read a letter describing a traumatic childhood, family problems, illnesses and bullying at school.
He said that he had not intended to murder anyone, only to injure others and commit a high-profile crime that would make him famous, although he used the wrong method to do so, and now realized his decision was “immature.”
The Taichung branch of the High Court still found Hung guilty of attempted murder.
Hung said in the second trial that he had taken 48 pills, making him feel dizzy and weak, adding that he intended to commit a crime that would lead the police to shoot and kill him, as he was “afraid of death.”
In the first trial, the court deemed that Hung’s mental state was stable at the time of the attack, and his actions were deemed to be premeditated, as he had bought knives, worn gloves and stabbed victims in vital areas intended to kill.
His motive was therefore deemed to be “self-destruction,” which was upheld in the second trial.
Hung thanked his parents for their warmth and support before apologizing to the two victims and fellow passengers, the Taichung MRT and the public for causing distress.
He said he wished for a lesser sentence, as he hoped to eventually “return to society.”
Hung did not appear in court today when the verdict was handed down.
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