The High Court has reaffirmed a death sentence in the murder of a Malaysian
student.

The Kaohsiung branch of the high court says the panel of judges unanimously
decided on the sentence based on Liang Yu-zhi's premeditated intent, the
brutality of the crime, and his lack of rehabilitation potential.



The case stems from the October 2020 murder of a Malaysian student from a
local university, where she was abducted and killed by Liang, who later
disposed of her body in a remote area in Kaohsiung.



Lower courts initially sentenced Liang to death for attempted sexual
assault, murder, and related crimes.

However, the Supreme Court had previously ordered a retrial, citing
inconsistencies in whether all crimes were premeditated and issues with
evaluating his rehabilitation potential.



Now the High Court finds that Liang's actions constitute the "most serious
crimes" as defined by both Taiwan's constitutional court and international
human rights conventions.

This marks the first death penalty ruling following a constitutional
interpretation that upheld the death penalty under specific conditions.

(NS)