Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

World

Taiwan beheading suspect beaten by angry mob

-

A Taiwanese man suspected of decapitating a four-year-old girl was beaten by an angry mob, as the case sparked fresh debate Tuesday about the death penalty for child-killers.

The man grabbed the child as she cycled to a Taipei metro station with her mother on Monday, and beheaded her with a kitchen knife, police said.

The suspect pushed away the girl's mother as she tried to save her daughter. Seven bystanders were also unable to stop the man, police added.

The girl has been identified only by her surname Liu. Local media have used her family nickname "little light bulb".

Police said the suspect, a 33-year-old surnamed Wang, had previously been arrested for drug related crimes and had sought medical treatment for mental illness.

The case, the second child killing in Taipei in less than a year, has sparked widespread public anger and criticism of calls to abolish the death penalty.

Taiwan resumed capital punishment in 2010 after a five-year hiatus. Executions are reserved for serious crimes including aggravated murder and kidnapping, but the political elite is divided over whether or not to retain it.

Parliament says it will on Thursday a review of a bill that would ensure those convicted of killing children under 12 are given the death penalty, or at least a life sentence in the case of severe mental illness.

"I am deeply saddened by the case... (the suspect) should be sentenced to death in the case of a stranger killing a child," said lawmaker Wang Yu-min, who proposed the bill.

People leave flowers and toys the site where a Taiwanese toddler was murdered in Taipei on March 28 ...
People leave flowers and toys the site where a Taiwanese toddler was murdered in Taipei on March 28, 2016
Aden Hsu, AFP

Children's welfare group the White Rose Social Care Association is planning to hold a rally in Taipei on April 10 to push for enforcement of capital punishment.

"This kind of random killing shows that Taiwan cannot afford to abolish the death penalty," said chairwoman Eva Liang.

The girl's mother, however, urged the public not to discuss the issue to allow the family time to grieve.

"If you are concerned about us or have sympathy, please respect us... I don't wish to see such discussions at the time being," she told reporters outside a funeral home, also asking people not to circulate photos of the girl's body.

- 'Stop beating' -

Television footage Monday showed dozens of angry people gathered outside a police station in Taipei where the suspect was being held.

Some attacked the man as he was being transferred to the prosecutor's office for questioning. He pleaded with them to "stop beating".

Others came to lay flowers and toys at the spot where the girl was killed and her family held a religious ceremony for her there.

President-elect Tsai Ing-wen who will take office on May 20, also went to the scene to lay flowers.

"This incident deals a big blow to Taiwan's society. Many Taiwanese people are saddened and feel insecure... We should work together so parents don't have to worry and children can grow up safely," she said.

A Taiwanese man suspected of decapitating a four-year-old girl was beaten by an angry mob, as the case sparked fresh debate Tuesday about the death penalty for child-killers.

The man grabbed the child as she cycled to a Taipei metro station with her mother on Monday, and beheaded her with a kitchen knife, police said.

The suspect pushed away the girl’s mother as she tried to save her daughter. Seven bystanders were also unable to stop the man, police added.

The girl has been identified only by her surname Liu. Local media have used her family nickname “little light bulb”.

Police said the suspect, a 33-year-old surnamed Wang, had previously been arrested for drug related crimes and had sought medical treatment for mental illness.

The case, the second child killing in Taipei in less than a year, has sparked widespread public anger and criticism of calls to abolish the death penalty.

Taiwan resumed capital punishment in 2010 after a five-year hiatus. Executions are reserved for serious crimes including aggravated murder and kidnapping, but the political elite is divided over whether or not to retain it.

Parliament says it will on Thursday a review of a bill that would ensure those convicted of killing children under 12 are given the death penalty, or at least a life sentence in the case of severe mental illness.

“I am deeply saddened by the case… (the suspect) should be sentenced to death in the case of a stranger killing a child,” said lawmaker Wang Yu-min, who proposed the bill.

People leave flowers and toys the site where a Taiwanese toddler was murdered in Taipei on March 28 ...

People leave flowers and toys the site where a Taiwanese toddler was murdered in Taipei on March 28, 2016
Aden Hsu, AFP

Children’s welfare group the White Rose Social Care Association is planning to hold a rally in Taipei on April 10 to push for enforcement of capital punishment.

“This kind of random killing shows that Taiwan cannot afford to abolish the death penalty,” said chairwoman Eva Liang.

The girl’s mother, however, urged the public not to discuss the issue to allow the family time to grieve.

“If you are concerned about us or have sympathy, please respect us… I don’t wish to see such discussions at the time being,” she told reporters outside a funeral home, also asking people not to circulate photos of the girl’s body.

– ‘Stop beating’ –

Television footage Monday showed dozens of angry people gathered outside a police station in Taipei where the suspect was being held.

Some attacked the man as he was being transferred to the prosecutor’s office for questioning. He pleaded with them to “stop beating”.

Others came to lay flowers and toys at the spot where the girl was killed and her family held a religious ceremony for her there.

President-elect Tsai Ing-wen who will take office on May 20, also went to the scene to lay flowers.

“This incident deals a big blow to Taiwan’s society. Many Taiwanese people are saddened and feel insecure… We should work together so parents don’t have to worry and children can grow up safely,” she said.

AFP
Written By

With 2,400 staff representing 100 different nationalities, AFP covers the world as a leading global news agency. AFP provides fast, comprehensive and verified coverage of the issues affecting our daily lives.

You may also like:

World

Immigration is a symptom of a much deeper worldwide problem.

Business

Saudi Aramco President & CEO Amin Nasser speaks during the CERAWeek oil summit in Houston, Texas - Copyright AFP Mark FelixPointing to the still...

Business

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal infers that some workers might be falling out of the job market altogether.

World

The security situation in Port-au-Prince has had a direct impact on Haitians.