Life Sentence for Convicted Murderer Angers Families of Victims

Jan 30, 2016 07:22 AM EST

(Photo : Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) Relatives of two murdered women have voiced their dissatisfaction after a court in Taiwan reduced the sentenced of Wu Min-cheng, who has been found guilty of killing both women, from a death sentence to life imprisonment.

Taiwan's high court on Wednesday retracted its ruling of death penalty and changed it to life imprisonment for a convicted murderer.

The convict, Wu Min-cheng has been found guilty of killing two women, both his former lovers, in separate incidents.

Like Us on Facebook

Wu was in a relationship with one of his co-workers surnamed Tang in 1993. He killed her by stabbing her with a knife multiple times, earning him a ticket to jail. When he was on parole in 2009, he shot Huang, a kindergarten teacher, in the head after learning that she wanted to break up with him.

He was found guilty and sentenced to death for Huang's death in 2009, with a second retrial resulting in a similar ruling. However, a third retrial held on Wednesday saw the court withdraw the death sentence and change it to life imprisonment.

It is important to note the Wu is a wealthy man.

"The government and the justice system kept on giving Wu a chance, but who gave the two women he killed a chance to live? The system allowed Wu to renew his life and gave him parole after the first murder, which resulted in Huang's death. Who can give her a chance to live again?" Huang's brother said.

Chen Cheng-yu, convener of the Alliance Against the Abolishment of Capital Punishment, is also against the decision.

"The value of a human life should not be measured by money. It is one thing that Wu is wealthy and he can pay compensation, but it is another matter if the family are not willing to accept his apology," Chen said.

Wu and his lawyers negotiated a settlement worth NT$2.2 million ($65,199) with Huang's family.

Wu reportedly cried during the retrial and knelt down in front of Huang's family, begging for their forgiveness.

"The judge says this man can be rehabilitated. It is impossible. We do not believe this can happen. This man is cunning and acting to elicit sympathy from the judge," Huang's brother added.

The latest ruling could still be appealed.

TagsTaiwan high court, Wu Min-cheng, death penalty to life sentence, life imprisonment, convicted murder