Metro killer Cheng Chieh was executed at 8:47pm Tuesday evening. Cheng went on a stabbing spree on Taipei’s metro on May 21, 2014. The attack killed four and injured 22. Cheng was 21 years old at the time. It was the first fatal attack on the Taipei metro since it began operations in 1996.
Cheng was executed just 18 days after a court handed down a fourth death sentence. This is the shortest time between a final verdict and an execution in Taiwan’s history. Cheng was ultimately found guilty of four murders and 22 counts of attempted manslaughter.
Minister of Justice Luo Ying-shay said Wednesday that Cheng committed his crime in broad daylight and hurt innocent people. Luo said she wants the execution to serve as a warning to Cheng’s fans.
"Some people are saying I am now responsible for one more life. But I think he brought his execution upon himself. His actions have caused many judges, even those against the death penalty, to feel the need to hand down death sentences," Luo said. "He received four death sentences and many other sentences. Everyone should think about the seriousness [of his crime]. Didn’t he leave [them] with no choice but to make this decision?"
Some people have speculated that the execution was carried out before the May 20 presidential inauguration due to political factors. But Luo said there were no other considerations involved.