Taoyuan: The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a 20-year prison sentence for a woman from Taoyuan who committed arson, resulting in the death of her girlfriend’s 3-year-old daughter, thereby finalizing her conviction.

According to Focus Taiwan, court documents reveal that the woman, identified by her surname Teng, resided with her girlfriend, Yu, along with Yu’s parents and young daughter in Taoyuan’s Daxi District. The tragic incident was set in motion in January 2023 after a dispute erupted between the couple following a visit from the child’s biological father. During this time, Teng reportedly threatened to harm Yu’s family and daughter.

The situation escalated on the morning of February 7, 2023, when another argument ensued after Teng examined Yu’s mobile phone. In a moment of anger, Teng poured gasoline on Yu, her daughter, and the room, subsequently setting it ablaze using a lighter. Yu managed to extinguish the flames in the bathroom and attempted to save her daughter; however, the fire spread rapidly, resulting in the child’s death from burns and smoke inhalation. Yu herself sustained severe burns over a significant portion of her body.

In June 2023, Teng faced charges of homicide and making criminal threats. By June 2024, a panel of citizen judges at the Taoyuan District Court found her guilty of the intentional killing of a child, sentencing her to 20 years in prison, with an additional 59 days of detention for the threat, which could be converted into a fine. Although both the prosecution and Teng appealed the decision, the Taiwan High Court supported the initial ruling in July, affirming the lower court’s judgment regarding the facts and legal application.

The Supreme Court’s dismissal of Teng’s final appeal has now cemented the 20-year sentence.