Liang Yu-chih Sentenced to Life Imprisonment for Murder of Malaysian Female University Student Finalized by Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of Taiwan has finalized the life sentence of Liang Yu-chih for the 2020 murder of a Malaysian female student from Chang Jung Christian University, dismissing the appeal and upholding the Kaohsiung branch of the High Court's ruling.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 17:53
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Central News Agency
(CNA, Taipei, 23rd) In the case of Liang Yu-chih, who is accused of murdering a Malaysian female student from Chang Jung Christian University, he was sentenced to death three times from the first instance to the first retrial. The Kaohsiung Branch of the Taiwan High Court commuted the sentence to life imprisonment in the second retrial. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal today, upholding Liang Yu-chih's life sentence and life-long deprivation of civil rights, making the decision final.
On the evening of October 28, 2020, while a Malaysian female student from Chang Jung Christian University was walking back to her dormitory from campus under the elevated viaduct of the TRA Shalun Branch Line, Liang Yu-chih strangled her with a rope and forced her into a vehicle. After the female student died, her body was abandoned in a mountainous area of Alian District, Kaohsiung City.
The Taiwan Ciaotou District Court sentenced Liang Yu-chih to death and life-long deprivation of civil rights in the first instance for crimes including attempted forcible sexual intercourse, intentional homicide associated with forcible sexual intercourse, robbery and murder, and abandonment of a corpse. Upon appeal, the Kaohsiung Branch of the High Court maintained the death sentence in the second instance.
After appealing, the Supreme Court revoked the part of Liang Yu-chih's sentence regarding forcible sexual intercourse and remanded it for retrial. For the parts involving abandonment of a corpse and attempted forcible sexual intercourse, he was sentenced to 2 years and 2 years and 10 months respectively, which are finalized.
The Kaohsiung Branch of the High Court in the first retrial believed that Liang Yu-chih's actions met the "most serious crime circumstances" referred to in the Constitutional Court Judgment No. 8 of 2024 and the "most serious crimes" referred to in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The collegiate bench unanimously sentenced him to death and life-long deprivation of civil rights. The Supreme Court revoked the judgment again and remanded it for retrial.
The Kaohsiung Branch of the High Court in the second retrial stated that Liang Yu-chih robbed properties after forcible sexual intercourse, and subsequently killed the female student because she resisted and called for help. The motive and purpose of the crime were merely to satisfy his desires, which is a major evil. However, it was not a premeditated or planned murder beforehand. Although the methods were quite cruel, based on the consideration of careful sentencing, after objective comparison and comprehensive judgment, it is difficult to consider that Liang Yu-chih's crimes have reached "the most serious crimes."
The second retrial comprehensively judged the relevant circumstances, considered it repeatedly, and for the crimes of forcible sexual intercourse resulting in the murder of the victim and robbery committed by Liang Yu-chih, sentenced him to life imprisonment and imprisonment for 8 years respectively, and for the life imprisonment part, declared life-long deprivation of civil rights. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal today, finalizing the whole case. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150423
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(CNA, Taipei, 23rd) In the case of Liang Yu-chih, who is accused of murdering a Malaysian female student from Chang Jung Christian University, he was sentenced to death three times from the first instance to the first retrial. The Kaohsiung Branch of the Taiwan High Court commuted the sentence to life imprisonment in the second retrial. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal today, upholding Liang Yu-chih's life sentence and life-long deprivation of civil rights, making the decision final.
On the evening of October 28, 2020, while a Malaysian female student from Chang Jung Christian University was walking back to her dormitory from campus under the elevated viaduct of the TRA Shalun Branch Line, Liang Yu-chih strangled her with a rope and forced her into a vehicle. After the female student died, her body was abandoned in a mountainous area of Alian District, Kaohsiung City.
The Taiwan Ciaotou District Court sentenced Liang Yu-chih to death and life-long deprivation of civil rights in the first instance for crimes including attempted forcible sexual intercourse, intentional homicide associated with forcible sexual intercourse, robbery and murder, and abandonment of a corpse. Upon appeal, the Kaohsiung Branch of the High Court maintained the death sentence in the second instance.
After appealing, the Supreme Court revoked the part of Liang Yu-chih's sentence regarding forcible sexual intercourse and remanded it for retrial. For the parts involving abandonment of a corpse and attempted forcible sexual intercourse, he was sentenced to 2 years and 2 years and 10 months respectively, which are finalized.
The Kaohsiung Branch of the High Court in the first retrial believed that Liang Yu-chih's actions met the "most serious crime circumstances" referred to in the Constitutional Court Judgment No. 8 of 2024 and the "most serious crimes" referred to in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The collegiate bench unanimously sentenced him to death and life-long deprivation of civil rights. The Supreme Court revoked the judgment again and remanded it for retrial.
The Kaohsiung Branch of the High Court in the second retrial stated that Liang Yu-chih robbed properties after forcible sexual intercourse, and subsequently killed the female student because she resisted and called for help. The motive and purpose of the crime were merely to satisfy his desires, which is a major evil. However, it was not a premeditated or planned murder beforehand. Although the methods were quite cruel, based on the consideration of careful sentencing, after objective comparison and comprehensive judgment, it is difficult to consider that Liang Yu-chih's crimes have reached "the most serious crimes."
The second retrial comprehensively judged the relevant circumstances, considered it repeatedly, and for the crimes of forcible sexual intercourse resulting in the murder of the victim and robbery committed by Liang Yu-chih, sentenced him to life imprisonment and imprisonment for 8 years respectively, and for the life imprisonment part, declared life-long deprivation of civil rights. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal today, finalizing the whole case. (Editor: Chen Ching-fang) 1150423
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The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.