New Taipei City, Taiwan – A man identified by the surname You has been formally charged with murder after allegedly fatally stabbing another man, surnamed Chen, in the head with a pair of scissors during a heated argument at a betel nut stall in Bali District earlier this year.
According to prosecutors, the incident occurred around 7 p.m. on March 9. You, 47, and Chen, 54, were drinking and socializing with friends at a roadside stall when a disagreement broke out. You reportedly quarreled with several people at the table after being accused of going through someone else’s bag. Though tensions initially subsided, a second argument erupted between You and Chen over a minor issue.
In a sudden burst of anger, You allegedly grabbed a pair of stainless steel scissors from the table and stabbed Chen twice in the head while he was seated. One of the wounds penetrated 3.7 centimeters into Chen’s skull, piercing his parietal bone, while the second stab lodged the blade into the bone itself.
Chen suffered massive bleeding and was rushed to Mackay Memorial Hospital in Tamsui. Despite receiving emergency treatment, he succumbed to his injuries on March 19. The cause of death was listed as traumatic subdural hemorrhage, skull fracture, and severe brain trauma.
A stall employee who witnessed the attack immediately called the police. Officers arrived swiftly and arrested You at the scene. He was initially held on suspicion of attempted murder and later transferred to the Shilin District Prosecutors Office for further investigation.
Although the Shilin District Court first released You without bail, public outcry from the victim’s family prompted a prosecutorial appeal. The court later reversed its decision and ordered You to be detained.
Following a thorough investigation, prosecutors concluded that You acted with lethal intent and formally indicted him for murder. The case has now been forwarded to the Shilin District Court for trial.
