Supreme Court upholds jail terms in junior high school murder case

Taipei, Feb. 12 (CNA) The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld prison sentences of more than 10 years handed down by the Taiwan High Court to two New Taipei junior high school students convicted of murder, finalizing a case that occurred more than two years ago.

The case stemmed from an incident on Dec. 25, 2023, when a girl reportedly went to another classroom during the lunch break to chat but was asked to leave by a boy.

Afterward, she called a male student she knew to confront that boy. The student she called later fatally stabbed him with a spring-loaded knife, according to court records.

Because the case involved minors, the identities of those involved, including the victim and the school, have not been disclosed in accordance with the Juvenile Justice Act, which prohibits the release of information, records, or images related to juvenile protection or juvenile criminal cases.

In September 2024, the New Taipei juvenile court found the two students guilty of murder. Citing a legal provision that allows reduced sentences for offenders aged 14 to under 18, the court sentenced the boy to nine years in prison and the girl to eight years.

The victim's parents later criticized the juvenile justice system, arguing that it overly protected offenders. They also said the two students only apologized after guidance from judges rather than out of genuine remorse, and that the sentences were too lenient.

Following an appeal, the Taiwan High Court increased the sentences to 12 years for the boy and 11 years for the girl. The court cited clear evidence of their actions and said the original ruling had failed to fully consider medical assessments, the boy's risk of reoffending, and other relevant factors.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court said it found no errors in the High Court's ruling and upheld the increased sentences, bringing the case to a close.

(By Hsieh Chun-ling and Ko Lin) Endietm/kb