Death Sentence Commuted to Life for Man Convicted in Fatal Arson Case

TAIPEI: A man previously sentenced to death for an arson attack that resulted in the deaths of eight family members in June 2022 had his sentence reduced to life imprisonment. The Taiwan High Court ruled on Wednesday that his act of surrender showed genuine remorse, leading to the commutation. According to Focus Taiwan, the High Court's decision can still be appealed. The original death sentence was imposed by the Hsinchu District Court on Chen Yen-hsiang, who set his home ablaze, causing the deaths of eight people, including his mother, wife, and three children. High Court spokesman Wang Ping-hsia announced the sentence reduction. The commutation marks the first such case since Taiwan's Constitutional Court ruled on the partial constitutionality of the death penalty, allowing it only for the most extreme cases. Despite the gravity of Chen's actions, which the court deemed morally reprehensible and particularly cruel, his surrender was viewed as a mitigating factor. Wang explained that evidence showed Chen expressed remorse and self-blame, even contemplating suicide. His voluntary surrender was not motivated by the prospect of a reduced sentence, aligning with Article 62 of the Criminal Act, which permits sentence commutation for those who surrender. The High Court noted that Chen confessed to committing arson but denied intending to kill his family. Evidence suggested that Chen was overwhelmed by work, familial issues, and debts, often clashing with his parents, with whom he co-managed a tire shop in Hsinchu City. On June 15, 2022, after an argument with his parents, Chen returned with gasoline, which he spread throughout the tire shop before igniting it. The fire quickly engulfed the living quarters above. Despite the severity of the incident, Chen's efforts to urge firefighters to save his family led the court to conclude he lacked intent to harm his wife and children, according to the High Court.