TAIWAN: DEPRESSED MAN’S DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED TO LIFE

the Supreme Court in Taiwan commuted the death sentence of a motorist for killing his friend whom he had suspected of stealing NT$700 to life imprisonment. Huang Tien-chung, 35, was sentenced to death twice at the first and second trials. On May 23, 2007, Huang and his friend Wang Sheng-tien had a row. Huang was driving his car, taking Wang back home to Miaoli, when he found he had lost NT$700. Huang suspected Wang of stealing his money. The motorist, who has depression records, threw Wang's belongings out of the car window. The car stopped, and Wang tied himself with a rope to get down into a valley to pick his belongings up. Then Huang started the car and tried to speed away, with Wang in tow. Wang was mortally wounded after he had been dragged for over 300 yards. Because he was depressed, the Supreme Court verdict said, Huang's death sentence was commuted to life.