GETS LIFE

through drug rehabilitation, but was reclusive and isolated, developing schizophrenia and hallucinations.

However, the statement also described the killing as “grotesquely violent”, adding that Wang had known murder was illegal and had dodged supervision in order to commit it.

“He has not shown empathy and regret, and after assessment, the chance of committing crime again is still high,” the statement said.

Taiwan resumed capital punishment in 2010 after a five-year hiatus.

Executions are reserved for serious crimes such as aggravated murder.

Some politicians and rights groups have called for its abolition, but various opinion surveys show majority support for the death penalty.

After the decapitation in March last year, hundreds of Taiwanese, many dressed in black and wearing stickers reading “Death penalty is necessary”, called for Wang to be executed.

The killing came less than a year after the throat of an 8-yearold girl was slit in her school restroom in Taipei.

It sparked widespread public anger and fresh debate about capital punishment.

Prosecutors in Wang’s case said during court hearings that he should be put to death as a psychiatric report had found him to be mentally sound enough to be responsible for his actions.

But his defence had argued that Wang suffered from a mental disorder, so should be given a limited-term imprisonment or sent for treatment.

Police said he had previously been arrested for drug-related crimes.

He was attacked by an angry mob while in custody.

Prosecutors said blood tests showed he was not under the influence of drugs at the time of the murder. AFP