TAIWAN COURT ORDERS DEATH PENALTY AFTER 16 YEARS

Taiwan's High Court ordered three convicted murderers to be executed in a 16 year old case criticised by Amnesty International. Under orders Taiwan's Supreme Court to re-hear the case, the High Court overturned its own 2003 acquittal verdict by sentencing Liu Bing-lang, Su Chien-ho and Chuang Lin-hsun, also known as the Hsichih Trio, on charges of robbing and fatally stabbing two people in a Taipei suburb, local newspapers said. The bodies were discovered in March 1991 with 75 stab wounds. Amnesty International condemned Taiwan, saying prosecutors lacked evidence despite years of investigations and 10 trials. The defendants have also alleged they were tortured.