On 29 June 2007, the Taiwan High Court sentenced three men to death:Su Chien-ho, Liu Bin-lang and Chuang Lin-hsun. This case has been processed in Taiwan’s judicial system for nearly two decades and is internationally known as the “Hsichih Trio” case. Based solely on the defendants’ confessions drawn from police torture – with no evidence to prove that the Trio committed the crime – this decision has exacted heavy damage on Taiwanese citizens’ expectation for, and faith in, justice. The High Court’s final verdict not only pronounced death to three innocent lives, it also violated all international standards and principles.
Because of this case’s preposterous irregularities and fraud, Taiwanese civil society took the initiative to launch a judicial reform movement sixteen years ago demanding a review of long-standing institutional problems and a judicial system worthy of civil society’s trust. Despite such prolonged effort, the recent sentence by the High Court proved that the reform movement is back to ground zero and Taiwan’s judicial system is stubborn and disappointing as ever.
Now, the Hsichih Trio Vindication Mobilization Group (HTVMG) has assembled old members and new ones again to call upon civil society organizations and individuals to join this fight for Su Chien-ho, Liu Bin-lang and Chuang Lin-hsun and working diligently to end judicial arbitrariness. We demand the following：
1. Death penalty cases should adopt the most stringent procedures for criminal proceedings. The Supreme Court should allow oral argument and hold an open hearing for this case.
2. The Supreme Court should strictly apply the principle of presumption of innocence and the rules on evidence and should not find the Hsichih Trio guilty according to the High Court’s illegal confirmation of wrongful facts.
3. In order to end the use of torture methods in improperly obtaining confessions, the compulsory presence of a lawyer should be required when a criminal suspect is first questioned by the police.
4. In order to end judicial arbitrariness, the Judge Law should be promptly passed in order to establish a judicial evaluation and elimination system that would ensure judicial impartiality.
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