A New Taipei City man was sentenced to life imprisonment on Friday for fatally abusing his two-year-old stepson, while the child’s mother received a 19-year prison term for failing to stop the violence, according to a ruling by the New Taipei City District Court.
According to the verdict, the man, surnamed Wu (吳), repeatedly burned the child with cigarettes and later attacked him, while the boy’s mother, surnamed Chen (陳), failed to intervene.
Prosecutors said Wu burned the boy’s chest and left arm with a lit cigarette several times at their home in Tucheng District (土城) on Feb. 6 last year.
Photo: Wu Sheng-ju, Taipei Times
On the evening of Feb. 17 last year, Wu slapped the child repeatedly, kicked him, and twice grabbed his legs, lifting him upside down and shaking him before throwing him onto a bed, causing bleeding of the brain, retinal hemorrhage and seizures.
Despite hearing the child crying and screaming, Chen did not stop Wu from assaulting the child, the court said.
The court said that Chen later noticed the boy had bruises on his forehead, abnormally pale skin and unfocused vision, but did not seek medical help.
The following morning, the couple left the child alone at home for about 12 hours while they went to work.
When they returned that night, they found the boy pale, convulsing and unresponsive and took him to the hospital. The child died a month later, after failing to recover.
The citizen judge panel said Wu repeatedly abused a defenseless toddler and showed complete disregard for the child’s life and health, describing his actions as cruel.
The court said Wu had prior convictions, including domestic violence and obstruction of official duties and had repeatedly clashed with detention center staff during custody.
Wu was sentenced to life imprisonment and stripped of civil rights for life for intentionally fatally injuring a child.
Chen said during the trial that she had noticed the boy having seizures and had considered taking him to the hospital, but gave up after Wu objected.
The court said she failed to fulfill her parental responsibility and appeared to prioritize her relationship with Wu over the child’s safety.
Judges said Chen had admitted wrongdoing during restorative justice proceedings with the child’s grandfather and planned to divorce Wu.
Taking those factors into account, the court sentenced Chen to 19 years in prison for abandoning a child in violation of her duty of care, resulting in death.
The ruling can be appealed.
FUKUOKA SITUATION: Japanese media reported that the pathogen is expected to be identified by the summer, while the CDC downplayed the idea that it was hMPV A “mysterious cold-like illness” reported in Japan’s Fukuoka Prefecture does not seem to be a new disease, but Japanese authorities have been asked about the situation, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday. The Fukuoka Prefectural Medical Association on Wednesday told a news conference that a “mystery cold” that has become a hot topic on social media is “highly likely to be caused by some kind of viral infection,” Japan’s KBC News reported. “Many people are experiencing symptoms starting with a sore throat, followed by a runny nose, phlegm and a severe cough,” KBC News reported, citing association officials. Health authorities are
Nvidia Corp CEO Jensen Huang (黃仁勳) arrived in Taiwan yesterday ahead of upcoming AI and technology events, saying he plans to meet with clients and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) during his visit. After landing at Taipei Songshan Airport, Huang posed for photos with fans and handed out Yakult drinks to reporters and supporters waiting at the scene, saying he has “a lot to do” during the trip. Asked about reports that Nvidia’s planned headquarters site in Taipei’s Beitou Shilin Technology Park could break ground on May 27, Huang said that if the company holds an event, he would
The Ministry of Finance this afternoon announced the winning numbers for the March-April uniform invoice lottery. The winning number for the NT$10 million (US$318,060) special prize is 19531471, and the winning number for the NT$2 million grand prize is 85941329. Three numbers were drawn for the NT$200,000 first prize: 07225810, 20231230 and 83518781. Those with receipts matching the last seven digits of any of the first-prize numbers will win the NT$40,000 second prize, while those matching the last six digits will win the NT$10,000 third prize. Those whose receipts match the last five digits of the first-prize numbers can claim the NT$4,000 fourth prize,
SIX SUBSIDIES: The monthly allowance for older farmers is to increase to NT$10,000, and NT$5,000 is to be given to homemakers under the national pension system, Lai said The government is to implement major welfare policies for disadvantaged groups, including raising the monthly allowance for older farmers to NT$10,000 and providing homemakers with NT$5,000 per month, President William Lai (賴清德) said yesterday. Lai made the remarks during a visit to Wangling Temple in Chiayi County, saying that the planned increases were being introduced amid economic growth and an increase in tax revenue. Touting a policy, in which the government plans to provide a monthly allowance of NT$5,000 for every child under the age of 18 in a bid to address Taiwan’s low birthrate, Lai said that if received for the
RSS