Taiwan court acquits man in 1997 stabbing case after retrial
Quick Look
- A man accused of a 1997 stabbing in Taiwan has been acquitted after a retrial.
- The High Court cited flaws in the original evidence, including identification procedures and polygraph tests, ruling there was insufficient evidence to exclude reasonable doubt.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
In 1997, Su Yaohui was convicted of attempted murder for stabbing a couple in New Taipei City, based primarily on victim identification and polygraph results. The conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court. Following a retrial request, the High Court found significant flaws in the evidence and acquitted him.
男子蘇耀輝29年前涉嫌砍傷新北詹姓夫婦,並被一張照片指認為兇手,本案原先經最高法院依殺人未遂罪判刑8年定讞,經聲請再審後,高等法院認為當年關鍵證據包含測謊鑑定與圖譜判讀、被害人指認程序等均存有瑕疵,且整體證據結構不足以排除合理懷疑,改判無罪。
高檢署認為,原判決違背法令,近日已提起上訴。
高檢署今日表示,本案於指認程序、司法院大法官釋字第384號解釋的適用、測謊鑑定的證據評價及相關事實認定,以及經驗法則、論理法則的推論適用等重要事項,均有疏漏與違誤之虞,已構成違背法令的可能,認為原判決有違法之處,依法提起上訴。
回顧本案,1997年11月27日上午7時許,2名男子分別頭戴全罩式安全帽,各持小型開山刀,潛伏於新北市土城區青雲路詹姓夫妻住處外樓梯轉角處。待詹男外出按電梯之際,兩人隨即上前揮刀攻擊,造成詹男左前額、左後頸及左手多處刀傷,左大拇指肌腱也遭砍斷。
詹男當場驚呼求救,潘姓妻子聞聲自屋內開門查看,見丈夫遭持續攻擊,立即上前拉開歹徒,未料亦遭轉而砍殺,左臉頰、頭頂及右手等處共受6刀。兩人隨後雙雙倒地,兩名歹徒則趁隙逃逸,鄰居聽聞異狀後報警,並協助將詹姓夫妻自行駕車送醫急救,最終挽回性命。
警方初步依據詹姓夫妻對案發過程的陳述,研判案件可能與違建檢舉糾紛引發的訴訟有關,並依其所描述的特徵與身形,整理包含蘇姓男子在內的照片供指認,詹姓夫妻均指認蘇耀輝。新北地檢署偵結後提起公訴,全案歷經三審判決,蘇男依殺人未遂罪判處有期徒刑8年定讞。
高院再審認定,本案並無安全帽、兇刀、血衣、指紋或腳印等直接或生物跡證,檢方起訴主要依賴被害人指認、測謊結果及員警與鄰居證詞等間接證據,但僅能證明被害人曾遭人持刀砍傷,尚不足以支持指認內容的可信度,亦無從補強被告涉案事實。
高院認為,警方指認程序具有高度暗示性,測謊鑑定與圖譜判讀亦存重大瑕疵而不足採信,相關調查程序及證據調查方法均有違誤,且檢方所建構的犯罪論理欠缺客觀事證支撐,未能完整勾稽事實脈絡,因此撤銷原判決,改判無罪。
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The High Prosecutors Office's appeal will be reviewed by the Supreme Court.
Very likely · Within months
The case may be sent back for further investigation or a new trial if the appeal is successful.
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- What specific procedural flaws were identified in the victim identification process?
- What were the exact issues with the polygraph examination and its interpretation?
- Will the High Prosecutors Office's appeal be successful?
- What are the implications of this acquittal for the justice system in Taiwan?






