Taiwan executes subway killer

[yuiyoshida]

photo of Cheng Chieh, who pleaded guilty after a deadly subway stabbing spree. (AFP PHOTO)

TAIPEI: Taiwan on Tuesday (May 10) executed a former college student who killed four people in a random stabbing spree on a subway two years ago, in an attack which horrified the generally peaceful island.

Cheng Chieh, 23, was anaesthetized then shot three times by a firing squad at a jail outside Taipei a little before 9:00 pm (1300 GMT), deputy justice minister Chen Ming-tang told reporters.

"Death was the only way to show publicly that justice had been served and to relieve the sorrow and pain of victims' families," he said.

Cheng was sentenced to death last year for killing four people and injuring another 22, in the first fatal attack on the capital's subway system since it launched in 1996.

His execution surprised many, however, as it came less than three weeks after the supreme court upheld the death sentence despite last-ditch efforts by rights groups.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/taiwan-executes-subway/2773540.html

[DemocratSinceBirth]

1. I don't like the death penalty

[cwydro]

2. Why the mask?

Odd.

[yuiyoshida]

3. In Asia there maybe two reasons

1. In China because of the pollution
2. In many Asian countries surgical masks are used to not spread colds or flu.
3. Maybe in his case he wanted to remain some what anonymous

[cwydro]

6. Well yeah, I've seen the masks before.

But he's a dead man walking. Just seemed odd.

[yuiyoshida]

9. I would imagine in his case he wore it

to protect his anonymity.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. To keep him from spitting? Or biting?

[TrappedInUtah]

5. Fine with me

Whether or not you agree with the DP, it's hard to really feel bad for this guy.

[jonno99]

7. Disturbing story - even the killers parents agreed with the sentence though...

Prosecutors sought the death penalty for Cheng, saying psychological evaluations showed that he was not suffering from any mental disorder when he committed the crime.

Cheng, who pleaded guilty to the charges, was expelled by his university after the attack and was described by prosecutors as "anti-society, narcissistic, immature and pessimistic".

Local media said he had been obsessed with gory online games and had written horror stories.

Cheng's parents had asked for him to be sentenced to death, calling their son's actions "unforgivable".

No mental disorder, no mention of drugs or alcohol. Seems like a real bad seed...

Edit: I wonder why this was deemed news-worthy (seems to be an irrelevant point): Cheng...was expelled by his university after the attack...

[11 Bravo]

8. Those are some cold eyes.

[yuiyoshida]

10. I think at that point in the time line

He knew what was coming.