Hualien man sentenced to death over murder, sexual assault of teacher

Taipei, Oct. 9 (CNA) A Hualien man was sentenced to death on Thursday for the murder and sexual assault of a female junior high school teacher last year.

The case dates back to May 17, 2025 when the 29-year-old victim surnamed Tsai (蔡) was found dead with bruising around her neck in a room she rented at a local church.

The man sentenced Thursday, surnamed Liu (劉), who was 26 at the time of the crime, had broken into Tsai's dormitory room and sexually assaulted her before strangling her to death after she earlier rejected his romantic advances, according to police.

Police added that he afterward stole several personal items, along with her credit cards and other belongings.

In addition to the death sentence, the Hualien District Court also gave Liu a separate seven-month prison term for burglary.

Although Article 20 of the Criminal Code allows for the sentences of individuals like Liu with hearing and speech impairments to be reduced, the Hualien court said the death sentence reflected Liu's criminal responsibility.

The district court's ruling can be appealed.