The Kaohsiung District Court has sentenced a woman to 12 years in prison for the fatal abuse of her 11-year-old cousin, who was under her care. The boy, who suffered from mild developmental delays, died from severe brain injuries after being subjected to a brutal assault and forced physical exhaustion as punishment for a minor domestic dispute. The court convicted the woman of injury resulting in death, though the verdict remains eligible for appeal.
According to court records, the woman had been entrusted by the boy’s biological mother to provide care since August 2022. On 1 January 2024, the woman became enraged upon discovering that the child had disobeyed instructions regarding his breakfast. Instead of eating toast as directed, the boy had consumed instant noodles and allegedly lied about his actions, prompting the woman to initiate a violent disciplinary session starting at 7.30 pm.
The assault involved the woman repeatedly striking the boy’s back and head with a plastic rod, slapping his face, and pinching his chest. Following the physical beating, she forced the child to perform squats and jumping jacks for several hours. Despite the boy turning pale and eventually collapsing from exhaustion, the woman and her live-in boyfriend failed to seek medical attention, instead mocking the child’s condition and dismissing his physical distress as an attempt to frighten them.
The victim was only taken to Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at 8.00 am the following morning. Medical professionals discovered 21 instances of both fresh and old bruising across his body, alongside acute subdural haematoma and extensive ischaemic brain damage. Despite intensive medical intervention lasting nearly two months, the boy succumbed to widespread cerebral necrosis and passed away.
During the trial, the court noted that the defendant was well aware of the child’s developmental needs but chose to exercise extreme physical violence over routine disciplinary issues. Although she initially attempted to mislead the family by claiming the boy had simply fallen, she eventually confessed to the crime and reached an RM110,000 (NT$800,000) settlement with the parents. The presiding judge emphasised the gravity of the abuse against a vulnerable minor in the final sentencing decision.
