Kaohsiung Serial Murder Case: Defendant Sentenced to Death, Victims' Families Attack in Court

(Central News Agency, Kaohsiung, 5th) The verdict for the Kaohsiung serial murder case was announced this afternoon. The defendant, Chang Chieh-tsung, was sentenced to death by the citizen judge court. However, just after the judge declared the defendant be remanded, three male family members of the victims, surnamed Chao-Lin and Chang, suddenly rushed forward and attacked Chang Chieh-tsung in court. They were immediately stopped by court police.

The trial of the Kaohsiung serial murder case has concluded. The Kaohsiung District Court announced the verdict at 4:00 PM today in the citizen judge courtroom. For crimes including murder, damaging and abandoning a corpse, and theft, the court sentenced defendant Chang Chieh-tsung to death and deprived him of civil rights for life. The case can still be appealed. Chang showed no obvious reaction upon hearing the verdict, remaining silent with his head down throughout.

However, when the judge finished reading the verdict and declared the defendant be remanded, two male family members of the victims in the public gallery and one male family member in the litigation participant seat suddenly rushed forward, pushed Chang down, and beat his head. Chang fell to the ground and was attacked by the three family members with fists and feet.

During the incident, the family members shouted profanities and said, "The death penalty is just right." Subsequently, a large number of court police rushed into the courtroom to separate the parties, and a large police force was deployed to escort Chang back to the detention center. The scene was chaotic. According to on-site observations, Chang sustained head injuries. The three attackers were initially identified as relatives of the female victims surnamed Chao-Lin and Chang. (Editor: Chang Ming-kun) 1150605