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 survive.
Photo: Chang Wen-chuan, Taipei Times
Further investigation found that the sisters had abused two other young children, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors indicted the sisters on Jan. 20 for abuse, injury and coercion resulting in the death of one child and injury of two others.
The court subsequently selected six national judges, four reserve national judges and three professional judges to hear the case.
After 10 court hearings, Liu Tsai-hsuan admitted to the crime and apologized.
“I was wrong, I will take full responsibility and accept the punishment I deserve,” she said.
Liu Jou-lin admitted to accidently scratching the boy with her fingernails but denied committing abuse.
Prosecutors recommended that Liu Tsai-hsuan receive life imprisonment and Liu Jou-lin be sentenced to 16 to 18 years in jail.
The court issued its ruling today, which can be appealed.
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