Taiwan High Court revises sentences in 2023 school stabbing as convict’s court threat sparks anger

TAIWAN: A 2023 fatal New Taipei junior high school throat-slitting case that shocked Taiwan has returned to public focus following the High Court’s second-instance ruling, which revised prison sentences for two teenagers convicted of murdering a fellow student.

The offenders, a male surnamed Guo and a female surnamed Lin, were described during proceedings as an “adoptive brother” and “adoptive sister”.

The court sentenced Guo to 12 years’ imprisonment and Lin to 11 years.

In a related civil ruling, the High Court ordered the two offenders to jointly compensate the victim’s family, surnamed Yang, a total of NT$9.38 million, equivalent to about US$298,000, according to court documents.

During proceedings, however, the offenders reportedly stated they were unable to pay compensation, claiming they had no money. 

Public anger intensified further after local media reported that one offender allegedly made threatening remarks in court.

According to these reports, the individual claimed to possess the Yang family’s personal information and warned, “You’ll know when I get out.”

The reported statement triggered widespread outrage and heightened concerns about the family’s safety, particularly given the severity of the crime and the offenders’ young age at the time.

Fundraising campaign gains momentum

Separately, the New Taipei City Social Welfare Department had earlier launched a public fundraising initiative to assist the Yang family with expenses arising from the sudden loss.

According to the department, the funds were intended to cover daily living costs, legal proceedings and psychological counselling following the incident. The original fundraising target was set at NT$5 million, or about US$159,000.

Before the release of the second-instance verdict, donations had reached only around 78 per cent of the target and had not yet met the goal, officials said.

However, after news of the revised sentencing and reports of courtroom conduct spread, the fundraising campaign gained rapid momentum.

Netizens began mobilising on social media platform Threads, urging the public to show concrete support for the Yang family in light of the latest developments.

Within two days, donations surged sharply. As of the 26th, the total amount raised had reached NT$14.24 million, equivalent to about US$453,000, according to figures released by the social welfare department.

Officials acknowledged that the dramatic increase reflected strong public sentiment following renewed attention to the case and concerns over justice and victim protection.

Family expresses gratitude and requests donations to stop

In response to the overwhelming support, the parents of the deceased student conveyed their heartfelt thanks through New Taipei City councillor Shih Yi-you.

Yang’s father said the assistance received so far was sufficient to help the family cope with immediate difficulties and future legal proceedings.

He respectfully urged the public to stop further donations and instead pass the goodwill on to others who may be in greater need.

The family’s message reflected both gratitude and concern that continued donations could divert resources from other vulnerable groups.

Public concerns over safety and relocation

Despite the family’s appeal, donations continued to flow in.

Many members of the public expressed concern over the Yang family’s safety, particularly following the alleged courtroom threat regarding personal data.

Online comments urged the family to use part of the funds to relocate, with some suggesting moving and changing personal details to create a safer environment, especially for the victim’s sister, who has disabilities.

Messages circulating on social media described the situation as a “long-term battle”, encouraging the parents to prioritise security and stability as they move forward.

Lunch-time dispute escalated into fatal stabbing in 2023

The fatal incident occurred around lunchtime on 25 December 2023, at a junior high school in New Taipei City.

According to case records, a female student surnamed Lin went to the classroom of a male student surnamed Yang to chat with another female classmate.

As Lin was leaving the classroom, Yang reminded her to be mindful of public property after she closed the door with what he felt was excessive force.

Feeling dissatisfied, Lin returned to her own class and sought help from a male student surnamed Guo — referred to as her “adoptive brother” — along with several other classmates. Guo and his companions then confronted Yang, and the verbal dispute escalated into a physical altercation.

During the confrontation, Guo allegedly produced a spring-loaded knife that had been concealed beforehand and attacked Yang. Yang sustained stab wounds to his neck and chest, causing severe blood loss and loss of consciousness.

When emergency responders arrived at the scene, Yang was found to have no breathing or heartbeat due to massive blood loss. He was rushed to Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, where doctors immediately placed him on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and performed emergency surgery.

Although Yang briefly showed signs of life during treatment, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead on the night of 26 December.