The New Taipei District Prosecutor’s Office has suggested the death sentence for Cheng Chieh, the metro stabber. He has been charged with four counts of murder and 22 counts of attempted murder. Cheng had stabbed 4 people to death and injured 22 others during a random stabbing before rush hour on May 21 on the Taipei Metro. It was the first mass killing in the Taipei Metro’s 18-year history.
The prosecutor’s office said on Monday that Cheng’s actions can be classified as mass murder. The office is suggesting the death penalty due to his evil intentions, lack of 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," said Lee. "So prosecutors believe that his behavior can be defined as ‘mass murder’, abominable and inhumane. 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 from 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 one day by committing a 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.