TAIWAN: DOUBLE-MURDERER SENTENCED TO DEATH

December 24, 2015: Chen Fu-hsiang, who committed a double murder in broad daylight in January, was sentenced to death by the Taipei District Court. The convicted criminal was also deprived of suffrage and other civil rights, and fined NT$100,000 by a panel of judges. The 37-year-old Chen carried out fatal shootings against Tsai Tsong-yu and Tsai Kai-yang during a drug deal in a Ximending parking garage.
The victims' families asked for a combined NT$38.7 million in compensation, which was also granted by the court. Chen, dressed in jeans and a white T-shirt, showed no emotion when the verdict was announced. He was later transferred to the Taipei Detention Center.
In his defense, Chen said the murder was an act of self-defense. The claim was refuted by the judges, who said that after shooting the first victim, Chen had "alternate options" but he proceeded to murder the second victim. It formed the main basis of the court's sentencing.
The double shootings occurred in the process of a ketamine transaction on Jan. 13. The two Tsai's, who belonged to a drug cartel, had agreed to purchase 20 kg of ketamine from the gunman for NT$4.4 million.
Chen, who is a member of the notorious Heavenly Alliance gang, shot the two with a pistol before taking the money.
Prosecutors pressed murder, firearm, fraud and drug-related charges against Chen. (Sources: The China Post, 25/12/2015)