Taiwan Man Receives 8-Year Prison Sentence for Fatal Stabbing of Flatmate After Alleged Bullying

In Taiwan, a court has issued an eight-year prison sentence to a young man accused of fatally stabbing his flatmate in New Taipei City’s Sanchong District. The conflict that led to the incident reportedly stemmed from prolonged bullying and physical confrontations Yang said he endured from his 52-year-old roommate, Wang.

The deadly incident occurred on October 10, 2023, when an argument arose after Yang, who worked at a karaoke bar, did not initially thank Wang for opening the door for him. Wang confronted Yang about his lack of gratitude, prompting Yang to apologize by saying, "I'm sorry, thank you!" However, Wang was reportedly dissatisfied with this response and physically attacked Yang, punching him and leaving him bruised.

Reacting defensively, Yang stabbed Wang four times with a military-style knife—three times in the chest and once in the abdomen. Wang was later found grievously injured, lying in a pool of blood, and subsequently succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

Yang remained at the scene following the incident, waiting for police to arrive. In custody, he admitted that retaliation followed an assault over a minor misunderstanding, and expressed deep remorse for his actions.

Initially, the New Taipei District Court’s National Judges Division imposed an eight-year term for murder. The prosecution objected, contending the sentence was insufficient due to the lack of a settlement with Wang's family. Nevertheless, the Taiwan High Court found the prosecution’s appeal groundless, affirming the lower court’s sentencing.