Lin Yuru

Background

Lin Yuru was a Taiwanese woman aged 28.

Lin was addicted to betting on underground lottery since 2003. She chalked up huge gambling debts totalling many millions of yuan. Her motive included using insurance money to pay off her gambling debts, and she also used insurance money as described in the case narrative.

The offence

Lin successively murdered her own mother, her mother-in-law, and her husband.

In 2008, Lin murdered her mother by pushing her down a flight of steps. She gained around 5 million yuan from a prior accident insurance policy.

In the following year, Lin poisoned her mother-in-law while she was warded in hospital. Lin then used the same tactic on her husband in the next month, causing both deaths.

The case involved multiple deaths connected to insurance claims for the victims.

Investigation

Her wicked deeds were only revealed when she applied to receive 12 million yuan from the insurance company, arousing their suspicions. The company called the cops on her, prompting them to investigate this case and discover her crimes.

Blood samples from the victims showed that they had been fed various substances, including pesticides and other medicines that doctors had not prescribed. Last December, investigators found the toxic chemical methanol, which had caused Mr Liu’s death, in Lin’s home.

Arrest

Lin’s crimes were exposed after insurance companies discovered irregularities and reported them to the police.

Trial

Lin faced three death sentences for allegedly killing her mother, mother-in-law and husband to cash out on their insurance policies.

Prosecutors in Nantou, Taiwan asked for the three death penalties for Lin after she was charged on April 7, reported Apple Daily Taiwan. Lin had reportedly confessed to the killings during police investigations.

Lin admitted crime and regretted.

During the sentencing phase, the Taichung Supreme Court branch commuted her from a death penalty and two life imprisonments to three life imprisonments. The judge thought “a life for a life” hadn’t the most important consideration.

Lin listened to the sentence and, after it was understood she could escape death, she was expressionless.

Sentencing

Lin was sentenced to a death penalty and two life imprisonments. The Taichung Supreme Court branch commuted her to three life imprisonments.

Appeals

The case still can be further appealed.

Lin’s lawyer Zhou Zhifeng said: “Lin has admitted all crimes, the law should give her a way out. I will suggest her not to appeal.”

Lin’s husband’s aunt said: “I completely unacceptable. I must appeal!”

She continued to say that the family was ruined by Lin, and that she actually killed her husband for the second time when she didn’t success for the first time.

Lin wrote a letter after arrested, and said “I found a lawyer against her.”

Lin said she didn’t understand why the judge would change the original sentences for deep remorse.

Lin Feng, the Chief executive of Judicial Reform Foundation, said that the judge considered the murder is not necessarily to sentence to death, which is merit.

The victims’ families still had the right to appeal, if they were dissatisfied.

Other details

Lin allegedly bought life and accident policies for her mother, mother-in-law and husband in May last year. She was said to have plotted their murders to get payouts of NT$17 million (S$750,000) to repay debts of almost NT$10 million.

On Nov 10, 2008, Lin pushed her mother, Madam Hou Yueyun, 53, who was walking down the stairs at home. Madam Hou died at the scene and Lin subsequently received NT$5.06 million in insurance claims.

In May, Lin accompanied her mother-in-law, Madam Zheng Huishen, 47, to see doctors at a hospital. That month, Lin also bought life insurance for her four-year-old son. Lin arranged for her mother-in-law to stay in a single room, where she allegedly added crushed sleeping pills and anti-depressant pills to Madam Zheng’s intravenous drip. Lin called for help after finding her mother-in-law dead in bed. Lin later received NT$7.43 million from insurers.

Last June, Lin used similar means to murder her husband, Mr Liu Yuhang, 27. Lin reportedly injected crushed sleeping pills and methanol into his intravenous drip while he was being treated in a hospital. Nurses found Mr Liu in time and gave him emergency treatment, saving his life. Last July, Lin allegedly poisoned her husband at home and added poison into his intravenous drip when he was in hospital. Mr Liu died and Lin later claimed NT$4.75 million from insurers.

Although Taiwan has not carried out any executions since 2005, prosecutors said Lin deserved capital punishment because of the cold-blooded way in which the murders took place.

Lin was dubbed “Taiwan’s most frightening woman killer”.