Tainan court sentences Lin Hsin-wu to double death penalty

TAINAN (TVBS News) — The Tainan District Court on Thursday (Nov. 23) sentenced Lin Hsin-wu to death twice and deprived him of his civil rights for life for the shocking murder of two police officers.

Lin brutally killed Tainan City Police Bureau officers Tu Ming-cheng and Tsao Jui-chieh in 2022, an act that horrified Taiwan.

In the wake of the first-instance verdict, Tu's elder sister and Tsao's uncle expressed agreement with the decision, adamantly refusing to accept Lin's apology and stressing the importance of being held accountable for his actions, expecting that justice will be carried out.

Officers Tu and Tsao were killed by Lin using a spring knife and firearms while pursuing a suspected car thief. Following the attack, Lin searched for cartridges at the scene, attempted to wash away the blood, and used various transportation methods to flee.

The presiding judge of the first-instance trial stated that Lin exhibited normal recognition abilities and behavior control, demonstrated a firm intention to kill, used brutal methods, had a profound impact on society and the victims' families, and posed a high risk of reoffending.

The court dismissed defense arguments that Lin's behavioral control was significantly impaired due to severe alcohol use disorder.

In Taiwan, where capital punishment is still in effect, the issue of its abolition becomes a focus of public debate following major criminal cases. However, mainstream public opinion currently supports the death penalty.

The island currently has 38 inmates on death row who are yet to be executed.