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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Taiwan executes subway killer Cheng Chieh | Taiwan executes subway killer Cheng Chieh |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A Taiwanese man who killed four people in a mass stabbing on an underground train in Taipei has been executed. | A Taiwanese man who killed four people in a mass stabbing on an underground train in Taipei has been executed. |
| Cheng Chieh, 23, was anaesthetised on Tuesday evening at a jail outside the capital before being shot three times. | Cheng Chieh, 23, was anaesthetised on Tuesday evening at a jail outside the capital before being shot three times. |
| Cheng had injured another 22 people when he boarded the train in May 2014 and stabbed passengers at random. | Cheng had injured another 22 people when he boarded the train in May 2014 and stabbed passengers at random. |
| He had pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder charges, and was sentenced to death after the court ruled he was not mentally ill. | He had pleaded guilty to murder and attempted murder charges, and was sentenced to death after the court ruled he was not mentally ill. |
| Deputy Justice Minister Chen Ming said his death was "the only way to show publicly that justice had been served and to relieve the sorrow and pain of victims' families". | |
| The case shocked Taiwan, where violent street crime and mass attacks are rare. | The case shocked Taiwan, where violent street crime and mass attacks are rare. |
| Taiwan restarted its use of the death penalty in 2010 after a five-year moratorium. It currently has 42 people on death row. | Taiwan restarted its use of the death penalty in 2010 after a five-year moratorium. It currently has 42 people on death row. |
| Analysis: Cindy Sui, BBC News, Taipei | Analysis: Cindy Sui, BBC News, Taipei |
| Surveys have repeatedly shown a majority of Taiwanese support the death penalty, especially following crimes such as the subway stabbing and a recent spate of random violence, including the killing of children. | Surveys have repeatedly shown a majority of Taiwanese support the death penalty, especially following crimes such as the subway stabbing and a recent spate of random violence, including the killing of children. |
| But Amnesty International and the European Commission, as well as local human rights groups, argue that Taiwan should put a halt to executions. | But Amnesty International and the European Commission, as well as local human rights groups, argue that Taiwan should put a halt to executions. |
| Local activists and lawyers say there is a widespread practice here of assuming guilt and conducting trial by media. | Local activists and lawyers say there is a widespread practice here of assuming guilt and conducting trial by media. |
| They say Taiwan's legal system does not properly assess suspects for mental illness, and believe judges often disregard problems in the investigation or trial process. | They say Taiwan's legal system does not properly assess suspects for mental illness, and believe judges often disregard problems in the investigation or trial process. |
| Death penalty opponents say that instead of trying to please the public, the government should instead get to the root of why Taiwan is seeing these unprecedented violent acts. | Death penalty opponents say that instead of trying to please the public, the government should instead get to the root of why Taiwan is seeing these unprecedented violent acts. |