Taipei: The Taiwan High Court: on Thursday upheld the death sentence of a man surnamed Chang for killing his wife, mother-in-law, and 3-year-old stepson while they slept in New Taipei.

According to Focus Taiwan, Wen Chia-chien, spokesperson for the High Court's Criminal Division, stated that the court rejected Chang's appeal after determining that the New Taipei District Court's sentencing was proportional and appropriate given the gravity of the crimes. Chang had admitted to the killings during the second trial and only appealed the sentence. The ruling remains open to further appeals.

Wen explained that the judges found evidence of Chang's meticulous planning of the murders. The victims included his 69-year-old mother-in-law and his young stepson. The court deemed the case as "the most serious of crimes" due to the premeditated and particularly cruel nature of the killings.

According to the New Taipei District Court's ruling, the murders took place between April 30 and May 2, 2024, in New Taipei's Sanchong District. At the age of 24, Chang suffocated his wife, mother-in-law, and stepson in their sleep. Following the murders, he stole valuables from his mother-in-law and fled to Taichung in an attempt to escape capture. He was eventually apprehended on May 12. The New Taipei District Court sentenced Chang to death in September 2025.