Convicted individual faces capital punishment for committed homicide
In a historic ruling, a Taiwanese man named Chang was sentenced to death yesterday by a court panel that included six citizen judges. This is the first time that a death sentence has been imposed by citizen judges since Taiwan implemented a lay judge system on January 1, 2023.
The tragic events that led to this verdict occurred in New Taipei City last year. Chang, who was charged with the murder of his wife, mother-in-law, and three-year-old stepson, strangled his victims on May 2. The man wrapped the bodies, along with that of his wife, in a bedsheet.
Prior to the murders, Chang stole his mother-in-law's bank cards and valuables from her safety deposit box. There was no forced entry to the home prior to the three deaths. Chang's sister-in-law found the three dead bodies after hiring a locksmith to break into their home in Sanchong District.
After the murders, Chang fled and went into hiding for six days. He then checked into a hotel in Taichung, using his father's name, and brought his wife's dog with him. Chang was arrested on May 12 in Taichung.
During his trial, which lasted six days, Chang showed no remorse for the brutal killings. He killed his 30-year-old wife by suffocating her with a pillow while she was asleep. Chang also withdrew funds from his mother-in-law's bank account and used some of the money to upgrade his membership on a dating website and buy points on a gambling site.
The Citizen Judges Act mandates the participation of ordinary citizens in criminal trials for cases warranting a prison term of at least 10 years or premeditated crimes that result in death. However, there is no available information specifying the individuals involved in the collegial court that issued the death sentence for the first time in Taiwan in 2023, nor whether this court was composed of professional judges and citizens.
It is important to note that the ruling can still be appealed. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of justice and the consequences of heinous crimes.
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