Mytery of Taiwan: Presumption of Innocence
Two lawyers from the Judicial Reform Foundation try all they can, through approaches like social movements, news and public opinions, vowing to break the accomplice structure of “presumption of guilt” and “officials’ protecting each other” in the judicial circle. This is a story of how they race with time to save those who are innocent but sentenced to death.
Introduction
This work is adapted from a well-known real case of Hsu, Zih-Chiang. He got involved in a kidnap murder case because of his cousin’s confession. Even though he had an alibi, he had been sentenced the death penalty for seven times, and more than 70 judges didn’t believe he was innocent. Why wouldn’t the judges believe him since he didn’t commit the crime? Isn’t presumption of innocence the basic principle at court? Is it really possible for one person to see the others without any bios? While Hsu’s lawyers are trying hard to defend him and to reveal the truth and problems behind the enormous and rigid system, they’re also struggling to stand firm within it and have to confront challenges from the society and their own families.