Taiwan woman, 80, smothers polio-stricken son, 53, afraid he would be left alone after she dies

After devotedly caring for her 53-year-old, polio-stricken son for 50 years, an 80-year-old woman in Taiwan took his life in 2023 out of fear that he would be left with no caretaker when she dies.

She was sentenced to two years and six months in jail, but the courts recommended a presidential pardon.

Got Covid-19 in 2023

According to SETN, some months after birth, the woman's son contracted pneumonia and was subsequently diagnosed with polio.

For the next 50 years, the woman, Liu (transliteration), cared for him.

Sometime in 2023, Liu and her family fell ill with Covid-19, FTVNews reported.

While in quarantine, Liu became fearful that her ailing health and old age would lead to her passing, thereby leaving her son without a caretaker.

Considering her son's condition did not improve over the years, Liu decided to take his life.

In May 2023, she placed a red packet containing NT$10,000 (S$420) into her son's mouth and taped a handkerchief over his nose, causing him to die of asphyxiation.

She turned herself in after, TTV News wrote.

Her son was 53 years old at the time.

Wanted to take her own life too

According to Liu's defence lawyer, she had intended to take her own life too but was overcome by emotional distress after witnessing the passing of her son, FTVNews wrote.

During sentencing, the court took into consideration the fact the Liu had faithfully looked after her son for 50 years and also turned herself in.

They eventually handed her a two years and six months prison term.

However, they also recommended a presidential pardon be granted to Liu.

The circumstances of Liu's offence drew sympathy from commenters.

A lawyer opined on Facebook that it was hard not to feel shaken by the facts of the case, SETN reported.

"She wasn't cold-blooded, just heartbroken," the lawyer wrote.

Top image via SETN