6-Month-Old Infant Dies from Head Injury, High Court Retrials and Sentences Babysitter to 9 Years Imprisonment
The Taiwan High Court upheld the initial verdict of 9 years imprisonment for a babysitter, Ms. Tan, who caused the death of a 6-month-old infant from a severe head injury. This decision was made during a retrial after the Supreme Court remanded the case, overturning a previous second-instance ruling of 3 years and 6 months for negligent homicide.
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- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 14:02
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 14:31 (29 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 15:23 (51 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Hsieh Chun-lin, Taipei, 30th) During the period when babysitter Tan was caring for a 6-month-old infant, the infant suffered a severe head injury that led to death. The first instance court sentenced Ms. Tan to 9 years imprisonment, while the second instance changed it to 3 years and 6 months. After an appeal to the Supreme Court, the judgment was overturned and remanded for retrial. Today, the High Court rejected the appeal and still sentenced Ms. Tan to 9 years imprisonment.
Regarding the reasons for rejecting the appeal, the Taiwan High Court stated in a news release today that the original trial's determination that the defendant committed the crime of intentional injury resulting in death to an adult against a child, based on a comprehensive review of the evidence in the case, found no errors in its application of facts and law.
According to the news release, Ms. Tan continued to deny the charges on appeal, showing no remorse. Furthermore, in the civil suit attached to the criminal case, the original court ruled that Ms. Tan should compensate the infant's parents NT$2 million. While Ms. Tan claimed to have fulfilled the compensation, it was only paid after the court's judgment. After comprehensive consideration by the High Court panel, it was determined that the original sentence was appropriate, and thus the appeal was rejected.
The news release pointed out that Ms. Tan is a certified babysitter. Starting from March 1, 2018, she was entrusted by the infant Li's parents to care for the infant at her residence. On June 25 of the same year, the infant cried uncontrollably, and Ms. Tan moved the infant's body, causing his left forehead to be strongly impacted. After being rushed to the hospital, he died on July 17 of the same year due to diffuse necrotic cerebral edema.
In the criminal part, after review by the Taipei District Court in the first instance, considering that Ms. Tan denied the charges after the crime, even attributing the injuries to the infant's family, and did not reach a settlement or compensation with the infant's parents, it was deemed that she showed no signs of remorse and should not be treated leniently. She was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment for intentional injury resulting in death to an adult against a child.
After an appeal to the second instance, the High Court panel believed that there was insufficient concrete evidence to determine that Ms. Tan intentionally harmed the infant, and she also had no motive to harm the infant. Therefore, it was concluded that the infant's death was caused by Ms. Tan's negligent care, and she was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment for negligent homicide.
The entire case was appealed to the third instance, and after review by the Supreme Court, it was determined that the second instance judgment had deficiencies. The judgment was overturned and remanded to the High Court for retrial. Today, the High Court rejected the appeal, upholding the first instance judgment and still sentencing Ms. Tan to 9 years imprisonment. The case can be appealed.
In the civil part, the infant's parents requested compensation for medical expenses, support expenses, and spiritual solace. The Taipei District Court in the first instance, considering that the infant's parents indeed suffered immense spiritual pain, along with medical expenses and spiritual solace, ruled in 2022 that Ms. Tan should compensate NT$2 million. (Edited by Lee Hsi-chang) 1150430
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(Central News Agency reporter Hsieh Chun-lin, Taipei, 30th) During the period when babysitter Tan was caring for a 6-month-old infant, the infant suffered a severe head injury that led to death. The first instance court sentenced Ms. Tan to 9 years imprisonment, while the second instance changed it to 3 years and 6 months. After an appeal to the Supreme Court, the judgment was overturned and remanded for retrial. Today, the High Court rejected the appeal and still sentenced Ms. Tan to 9 years imprisonment.
Regarding the reasons for rejecting the appeal, the Taiwan High Court stated in a news release today that the original trial's determination that the defendant committed the crime of intentional injury resulting in death to an adult against a child, based on a comprehensive review of the evidence in the case, found no errors in its application of facts and law.
According to the news release, Ms. Tan continued to deny the charges on appeal, showing no remorse. Furthermore, in the civil suit attached to the criminal case, the original court ruled that Ms. Tan should compensate the infant's parents NT$2 million. While Ms. Tan claimed to have fulfilled the compensation, it was only paid after the court's judgment. After comprehensive consideration by the High Court panel, it was determined that the original sentence was appropriate, and thus the appeal was rejected.
The news release pointed out that Ms. Tan is a certified babysitter. Starting from March 1, 2018, she was entrusted by the infant Li's parents to care for the infant at her residence. On June 25 of the same year, the infant cried uncontrollably, and Ms. Tan moved the infant's body, causing his left forehead to be strongly impacted. After being rushed to the hospital, he died on July 17 of the same year due to diffuse necrotic cerebral edema.
In the criminal part, after review by the Taipei District Court in the first instance, considering that Ms. Tan denied the charges after the crime, even attributing the injuries to the infant's family, and did not reach a settlement or compensation with the infant's parents, it was deemed that she showed no signs of remorse and should not be treated leniently. She was sentenced to 9 years imprisonment for intentional injury resulting in death to an adult against a child.
After an appeal to the second instance, the High Court panel believed that there was insufficient concrete evidence to determine that Ms. Tan intentionally harmed the infant, and she also had no motive to harm the infant. Therefore, it was concluded that the infant's death was caused by Ms. Tan's negligent care, and she was sentenced to 3 years and 6 months imprisonment for negligent homicide.
The entire case was appealed to the third instance, and after review by the Supreme Court, it was determined that the second instance judgment had deficiencies. The judgment was overturned and remanded to the High Court for retrial. Today, the High Court rejected the appeal, upholding the first instance judgment and still sentencing Ms. Tan to 9 years imprisonment. The case can be appealed.
In the civil part, the infant's parents requested compensation for medical expenses, support expenses, and spiritual solace. The Taipei District Court in the first instance, considering that the infant's parents indeed suffered immense spiritual pain, along with medical expenses and spiritual solace, ruled in 2022 that Ms. Tan should compensate NT$2 million. (Edited by Lee Hsi-chang) 1150430
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship you make is the power to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or used without authorization.