The Hsinchu District Court has sentenced a man to seven months in jail for firing fireworks at a private residence.
The ruling said a man surnamed Shan (單), who held a grudge against a man surnamed Hsieh (謝) over private quarrels, at 4:30pm on Aug. 3 and 5am on Aug. 12 last year fired skyrocket fireworks at Hsieh’s residence, which threatened his life, body and property.
Shan’s actions terrorized Hsieh and threatened his personal security, it said.
Photo copied by Tsai Chang-sheng, Taipei Times
Shan denied that he was threatening Hsieh, adding that he was not trying to intimidate anyone, it said.
He told the court that he did not target Hsieh, and that none of the skyrockets were aimed at Hsieh’s residence.
After reviewing closed-circuit television footage, a judge found that the skyrockets set off the first time by Shan were aimed in a particular direction instead of the sky, and those set off the second time fell inside Hsieh’s yard, emitting thick smoke.
Shan also hurled verbal abuse after firing the skyrockets, threatening to repeat his actions if Hsieh dared to visit his grandparents again, the judge said.
In light of the evidence, Shan shooting skyrockets twice in front of Hsieh’s residence was clearly an act of intimidation against Hsieh, the ruling said.
It said it was common sense that aiming fireworks at the residence was intended to send a message, enough to frighten the victim and threaten their life, body and property, thus constituting the offense of threatening personal security, for which Shan was charged.
As Shan had denied the crime and said during the trial that he would again shoot skyrockets toward the victim’s residence, expressing no regret for the incidents, the judge sentenced him to seven months in prison, which can be commuted to a fine, the ruling said.
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