The New Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office is prosecuting Cheng Chieh, the metro stabber, for murder and attempted murder. Cheng had stabbed 4 people to death and injured 22 others on a random stabbing before rush hour on May 21 on the Taipei metro.
The prosecutor’s office said on Monday that Cheng’s actions can be defined as mass murder. The office is suggesting the death penalty due to his evil intentions, lack of any signs of mental illness and lack of remorse. The office spokesman Lee Hai-lung explains:
"During the investigation, the accused showed no signs of remorse. So prosecutors believe that his behavior can be defined as ‘mass murder', abominable and inhumane," said Lee.
"It has led to irreparable sadness to the family members of the victims. So we ask the court to give the strictest punishment."
During the investigation, there were 4 hospital interviews with Chien and 18 interviews with witnesses. Chien received a thorough health exam and the hospital has initially concluded he does not have any mental illness that would prevent him for discerning his behavior was illegal. They’ve also concluded that he is fully capable of standing trial.
Prosecutors described Chien as anti-social, narcissistic, apathetic, pessimistic and suicidal. In elementary school, Chien had problems with two female classmates, and swore to get revenge by committing the metro mass murder.
The New Taipei District Prosecutors Office said they would not prosecute on behalf of those injured in an attempt to run away from Chien. It also said it would not indict the Taipei Metro for negligence, as some victims’ family members had requested .