Black Cat driver sentenced to life for stabbing colleague

A woman working as a delivery driver for Black Cat Express has been sentenced to life in prison for the fatal stabbing of a male colleague. The New Taipei District Court's National Judges Court handed down the sentence in May for murder. Her detention has been extended by two months, starting July 8, as the court deemed her a flight risk due to the gravity of the crime, which carries a minimum sentence of 10 years.

The incident occurred on June 30 last year. The driver, identified by the surname Xu, allegedly kicked the victim, Chen, outside their workplace before repeatedly stabbing him in the chest and neck with a folding knife she carried. Chen died later that day from severe injuries, including a punctured left lung and significant blood loss.

During the trial, Xu claimed she acted because she experienced auditory hallucinations in 2025, hearing the victim's name. However, the court found that she had developed a murderous intent towards Chen two days prior to the incident without any apparent motive or reason. The court described her actions as brutal and violent, noting her full responsibility at the time of the crime.

The court also considered Xu's diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, which can lead to violent behavior. While her work performance and interactions with colleagues were reportedly adequate and she had no prior record, family and colleagues described her as short-tempered and prone to outbursts. She had previously considered buying a knife to harm another colleague due to interpersonal issues, but did not act on it. The two knives found on her at the time of the arrest were reportedly carried with her regularly, indicating a potential danger to society.

Both the prosecution and Chen's family sought a life sentence. The defense argued for a prison sentence, with no objection to the 15-year upper limit. The court ultimately decided on life imprisonment, citing the irrecoverable loss of life, the profound trauma inflicted on the victim's family, and the significant harm to public order and safety.

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The court extended her detention for two months, citing the seriousness of the crime and her flight risk.