TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected an appeal in a fatal school stabbing case in New Taipei, upholding prison terms of 12 years for a teenage boy and 11 years for a teenage girl, CNA reported.

According to court records, on Dec. 25, 2023, a female student surnamed Lin (林) entered a neighboring classroom to chat and was asked to leave by a male student surnamed Yang (楊). Angered by the confrontation, Lin later asked another student surnamed Kuo (郭) to “get back at” Yang, according to Storm Media.

Kuo later entered the classroom armed with a spring-loaded knife and stabbed Yang multiple times in the neck and chest. Yang lost vital signs at the scene and died the following day.

In the initial trial, the Juvenile Court found both Kuo and Lin guilty of murder. The court sentenced the boy to nine years and the girl to eight years in prison, as offenders aged 14 to under 18 may receive reduced sentences under Article 14 of the Criminal Code.

The case was appealed to the Taiwan High Court, which reviewed medical reports, risk of reoffending, and other evidence. The High Court concluded that the original trial had not fully considered these factors in sentencing.

After weighing the views of prosecutors, defense attorneys, and the victim’s family, and considering the teens’ development, the High Court increased the sentences to 12 years for the boy and 11 years for the girl. Yang’s parents, who had hoped for a 30-year sentence, expressed dissatisfaction with the ruling, according to CNA.

The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office argued that the original sentences were too light to serve as effective punishment and asked for longer terms in January. The Supreme Court said the appeal concerned only the length of the sentences, not the facts of the case, and dismissed claims that the teens’ intent was unclear.

The High Court’s sentences of 12 years for Kuo and 11 years for Lin are final.