Taiwan man charged with shooting former leader's son

Jan 21, 2011, 10:13 GMT

Taipei - Prosecutors Friday charged a man with attempted murder of Sean Lien, the son of former Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman Lien Chan, in November.

They also sought the death sentence against Lin Cheng-wei, 48, for killing a bystander when he shot Lien who was campaigning in a local council election.

Lien, a deputy campaign manager for Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin, was shot at close range in the face as he was canvassing in Yungho, near Taipei.

The bullet exited his skull and killed a bystander attending the rally. Lin was arrested on the spot.

Lien survived the attack and was released from hospital after 10 days.

Prosecutors said Lin mistook Sean Lien for the candidate, with whose family he had a financial dispute.

The Lien family contested the mistaken-identity argument, saying Sean Lien was very well known in Taiwan.

Lien Chan, is famous for having represented the KMT during a landmark visit to China in 2005 to mend fences with Beijing's Communist Party.

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