Taoyuan man who stabbed mother to death gets 19 years and 10 months

Taoyuan, June 21 (CNA) A man who stabbed his mother to death in 2024 has been sentenced to 19 years and 10 months in prison by the Taoyuan District Court.

The defendant, surnamed Chen (陳), was an 18-year-old vocational school student when he stabbed his mother to death on Jun. 1, 2024, for "disapproving of his life choices," the court said in a statement following Friday's ruling.

According to the court, Chen had reportedly felt dismissed by his mother for a long time.

After she refused to discuss issues related to his life and education, Chen resolved to kill her in order to "move forward in life," the court said.

In its indictment, the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office described Chen's act as "ferocious and determined," with multiple wounds to vital organs.

However, the court noted in its ruling that Chen admitted to the crime shortly after it occurred, remained consistent in his statements, and showed remorse throughout the investigation.

Also noted by the court was that Chen had been diagnosed since childhood with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), and antisocial personality disorder, and had difficulties controlling his emotions.

The incident had a severe emotional impact on Chen's family, with many relatives finding it difficult to forgive him, the court said.

In determining the sentence, the court concluded he may still have a chance to reintegrate into society and considered several mitigating factors, including that Chen had no prior criminal record, had taken part-time jobs to support himself, was close to his family and continued to express affection for them after the incident.

The sentence is subject to appeal.