Murder charge dropped in case of teenage millionaire's death

Taipei, May 1 (CNA) Prosecutors on Thursday upheld the decision not to charge a man with murder in connection with the death of a high school student, who had NT$500 million (US$15.59 million) in property assets, just two hours after the pair got married.

The Taichung District Prosecutors Office said there was insufficient evidence of foul play in the 18-year-old's death after re-examining surveillance footage and autopsy reports, and reinterviewing witnesses.

The office added that the plaintiffs could apply for reconsideration of the ruling.

The decision upheld an earlier one from June 2023, when prosecutors dropped a murder charge against the defendant, surnamed Hsia (夏).

The case was reopened following an appeal by the family of the deceased student, surnamed Lai (賴).

The autopsy found no traces of common poisons or alcohol in Lai's blood, urine, or stomach contents, prosecutors said.

There were also no signs of trauma or bleeding in Lai's nose, mouth, or throat, nor any scratches or marks on his body indicating resistance or restraint.

The office added that Lai's DNA was found on a rail of the balcony that he fell off.

Hsia and his father were accused of murdering Lai, who fell out of the building where Hsia lived and was pronounced dead shortly after on May 4, 2023.

Hsia is the son and assistant of a land administration agent who handled the case in which Lai was gifted NT$500 million worth of property by his father in January 2023.

Hsia and his father both witnessed the contract signing.

In May of that year, Hsia invited Lai to discuss his property and financial affairs, following the death of Lai's father in April.

Hsia then persuaded Lai to marry him, under the guise that it would help him avoid disputes regarding inheritence with his father's spouse, according to a January news release by the Taiwan High Court Taichung Branch Court.

Lai fell to his death shortly after they registered the marriage.

In a final ruling in January, Hsia was sentenced to 18 months for forgery after the court determined that his marriage to Lai was fraudulent.