Keelung Man Smothers 5-Year-Old Son With Pillow; Citizen Judges Sentence Him to Life for Cruel Methods
A Keelung man who smothered his 5-year-old son to death was sentenced to life imprisonment by the citizen judge panel, which deemed his crime cruel and unforgivable.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 17, 2026 at 18:24
- 🔍 Collected: April 17, 2026 at 18:31 (7 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 18, 2026 at 21:57 (27h 25m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Wang Chao-yu, Keelung, 17th) A man surnamed Chien in Keelung smothered his 5-year-old son to death with a pillow while the boy was sleeping. After trial by the citizen judge panel of the Keelung District Court, Chien was deemed to have used cruel methods and was sentenced today to life imprisonment and deprived of his civil rights for life.
The Keelung District Prosecutors Office pointed out that Chien and a woman surnamed Chang were married. After they separated in April last year, they agreed Chang would care for the son, but Chien was allowed to visit and take the boy to his Keelung residence with Chang's consent. On May 14 last year, while alone with his son, Chien smothered him with a pillow, causing asphyxiation. Prosecutors indicted Chien after investigation.
Presiding Judge Liu Kuei-chin stated during the verdict at 4 PM that Chien claimed his motive was that Chang wanted to take the son away, leading to conflict. Chien admitted harboring hatred toward Chang, who had proposed divorce. The autopsy showed the boy's lungs were swollen, indicating a pre-death struggle, highlighting Chien's cruel methods.
Liu pointed out that murdering one's own child is intolerable and violates the right to life. Chien claimed he was drinking during the crime, but police records showed he answered questions coherently, indicating alcohol did not impair his capacity. Furthermore, he did not turn himself in.
Liu stated the citizen judges considered Chien's decade-long emotional abuse towards Chang. The victim's uncle, who accompanied the boy for years, suffered mental trauma. Both Chang and the uncle requested the death penalty.
Considering the long-accumulated stress from economic disputes and the low likelihood of rehabilitation, the court sentenced Chien to life imprisonment for intentionally murdering a child. The case can be appealed. (Editor: Chen Jen-hua) 1150417
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(CNA Reporter Wang Chao-yu, Keelung, 17th) A man surnamed Chien in Keelung smothered his 5-year-old son to death with a pillow while the boy was sleeping. After trial by the citizen judge panel of the Keelung District Court, Chien was deemed to have used cruel methods and was sentenced today to life imprisonment and deprived of his civil rights for life.
The Keelung District Prosecutors Office pointed out that Chien and a woman surnamed Chang were married. After they separated in April last year, they agreed Chang would care for the son, but Chien was allowed to visit and take the boy to his Keelung residence with Chang's consent. On May 14 last year, while alone with his son, Chien smothered him with a pillow, causing asphyxiation. Prosecutors indicted Chien after investigation.
Presiding Judge Liu Kuei-chin stated during the verdict at 4 PM that Chien claimed his motive was that Chang wanted to take the son away, leading to conflict. Chien admitted harboring hatred toward Chang, who had proposed divorce. The autopsy showed the boy's lungs were swollen, indicating a pre-death struggle, highlighting Chien's cruel methods.
Liu pointed out that murdering one's own child is intolerable and violates the right to life. Chien claimed he was drinking during the crime, but police records showed he answered questions coherently, indicating alcohol did not impair his capacity. Furthermore, he did not turn himself in.
Liu stated the citizen judges considered Chien's decade-long emotional abuse towards Chang. The victim's uncle, who accompanied the boy for years, suffered mental trauma. Both Chang and the uncle requested the death penalty.
Considering the long-accumulated stress from economic disputes and the low likelihood of rehabilitation, the court sentenced Chien to life imprisonment for intentionally murdering a child. The case can be appealed. (Editor: Chen Jen-hua) 1150417
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA "First Hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.