TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Australian Alex Shorey testified in court on Wednesday after allegedly being poisoned by a Taiwanese woman in 2023.
Yang Chin-ping (楊錦屏) was charged with attempted murder by the Taipei District Prosecutors Office for allegedly mixing rat poison into Shorey’s food and drinks, per CNA. Taipei District Court had summoned Shorey, his parents, and a nurse to testify at a full-day hearing.
Shorey reportedly said he initially had friendly interactions with Yang and that their relationship was cordial. He said he was aware of the death of her former husband and added that Yang once mentioned her father was a retired Taiwan High Court judge.
Shorey said Yang had suggested they have an open relationship, which he believed was because she missed her husband. He added that she also took his passport.
Per CNA, Shorey said that in March 2023, he informed Yang he planned to return to Australia in April. Two days later, he began experiencing physical problems.
He said Yang gave him grape juice that tasted strange and later a grass jelly beverage. After drinking it, he said he was unable to move.
He described his hospitalization as the worst period of his life. CNA reported that Shorey said when doctors tried to speak English to him, Yang insisted they speak Mandarin and allow her to translate for him.
Shorey also testified that Yang possibly became jealous after learning he had dated and had sexual relations with a female employer at the cram school where he taught English.
After the hearing, Shorey and his parents declined to speak with reporters. Lawyer Chen Liang-ting (陳亮廷), however, said Shorey and his parents had completed their testimony as requested by prosecutors and defense attorneys.
Chen also apologized to the public on behalf of Shorey and his parents for previously speculating that Taiwanese night market snacks could have been the source of the alleged poisoning. He added that Shorey and his family were happy to return to Taiwan and provide testimony.
Chen said Shorey experienced complications from the suspected poisoning after returning home but, “He is doing well now.”
CNA quoted Chen as saying that Shorey hopes the court will impose an appropriate sentence and that such an incident will not happen again.
The prosecution said Yang met Shorey in January 2023 when he was a 23-year-old student enrolled in a Mandarin program at a university in northern Taiwan. Prosecutors indicted Yang in December 2024 on the charge of attempted murder.
CNA said prosecutors are calling for an eight-year prison sentence for Yang.
