SIGNIFICANCE:

Chiou Ho-Shun's case is Taiwan’s longest-running criminal case: the defendant is faced with execution after 24 years in custody and 12 trials for alleged kidnapping and killing Lu Cheng. His sentence was based on a confession that was extracted under torture which led to an unfair trial.

EXTRACTION UNDER TORTURE

Despite the Control Yuan in the 1990s confirming clear evidence of the extortion of confession by torture and lack of forensic evidence, with a number of police impeached and later convicted by criminal court, Chiou Ho-Shun remains sentenced to death.

Video of police conversation on torture of Chiou Ho-Shun for confession: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEpo-LVyzVY&NR=1

Video of police using violent threatening language on co-defendants and getting physical with them, cries of pain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dTBQDWyZ98&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOJgs6dKl-o

LACK OF EVIDENCE

There remains no material evidence tying CHIOU to the scene of the crime he allegedly committed - fingerprints do not match, no murder weapons found nor linked, the recording of the kidnapper's voice claimed by the police were never produced in court and its whereabouts are unknown. In 2003 police revealed that Hu Kuan-pao, a death row inmate sentenced for a series of kidnappings, confessed to the Lu murder just before his execution. This claim was not investigated.

CALL TO ACTION

Chiou Ho-Shun should not be executed and this democratic government has denied its own citizen basic human rights to a fair trial setting a horrific pattern of injustice for the world.

We need your voice to be heard before 14 June 2012. Sign the petition and send a letter to Taiwan’s President and Minister of Justice!

MORE LINKS:

More information on this case including lack of forensic evidence:
http://www.taedp.org.tw/index.php?load=read&id=959​

http://www.taedp.org.tw/index.php?load=read&id=945
http://www.taedp.org.tw/index.php?load=read&id=925