Hsu Tzu-chiang Case
Left only with co-defendants who "pointed the finger at him," Hsu Tzu-chiang, who was innocent and trusted the justice system, decided to face the charges head-on. Little did he know that what awaited him was an endless path of injustice.
"For over a decade, I always wanted to hug my mother."
Reflecting on his life "inside," Hsu Tzu-chiang said this.
Sixteen years on death row, twenty years of litigation, and a persistent injustice every step of the way—boundless despair was once what awaited Hsu Tzu-chiang. We still do not understand what it takes for the judicial system to admit its mistakes. Yet, on the road to justice, with every additional person who stands up, perhaps we can walk one less mile of wrongful suffering.
2016
How Much Luck Does It Take to Exonerate a Wrongful Conviction?
The first time I saw Hsuch Tzu-chiang in person was in early March 2015 at Café Philo in Taipei. I still remember how…
2016
Reflections on the Hsu Case Forum: Why Do So Many People Refuse to Trust the Judiciary?
"Wrongful conviction" is certainly a major factor contributing to the decline in public trust in the judiciary. Aside…
2015
Between Judicial Independence and Accountability in the Hsuch Tzu-chiang Case
"The original judgment is set aside. Hsuch Tzu-chiang is not guilty." As Presiding Judge Hsieh Ching-heng uttered these…
2015
Hsu Tzu-chiang and Cheng Hsing-tse
Looking at the final judgment in the Cheng Hsing-tse case, the court did not even dare to explicitly state that the…
2015
Hsu Tzi-chiang is a Philosopher
Psychologists say that facing devastating disasters brings extreme trauma. The emotional force of trauma is too…
2015
Justice Blooms, Saluting Three Brave Judges
After a 20-year legal battle, the Hsu Tzu-chiang case—which went through 7 death sentences, 2 life sentences, 1…
2015
Twenty Years of Presumption of "Guilt"
The High Court, in the ninth remand retrial, acquitted Hsu Tzu-chiang, with the sole rationale being the "presumption…
2015
Judges, Please Stop Asking About Your Senior Colleagues' Opinions!
During my summer internship at the Judicial Reform Foundation, I attended several sessions of the Hsu Tzu-chiang…
2015
What did the co-defendants of Chen Tzu-chiang say?
On July 8, the retrial (Ninth Remand) of the Chen Tzu-chiang case held its second evidence-investigation procedure. The…
2015
What Does It Take for a Judge to Believe Me?
After 20 years, the retrial (the 9th remand) of the Hsu Tzu-chiang case entered the "evidence investigation" phase of…
2015
Truth, Confrontation, and Beheading Chickens
"Raising a chopper is your right; refusing to raise the chopper to behead a chicken means you are guilty." Beyond being…
2015
Perhaps We Should All Learn Humility in the Face of Truth: Post-Script on Court Observation of the Hsuch'en Case
Before attending court hearings as an observer, my imagination of witness examination came mostly from movies. Films…