News
Taiwanese Murder Suspect Reportedly Blames Gunnm Manga
posted on by Egan Loo
A Taiwanese man arrested for allegedly killing his landlord on Monday has reportedly blamed the GUNNM (Battle Angel Alita) manga for his actions. On the morning of March 9, a jobless man with the family name Huang searched housing websites and called random landlords who were looking for renters. While one landlord was taking Huang for a tour, Huang allegedly attacked the landlord on the head with a hammer, followed by a machete on the neck, killing him instantly. Huang reportedly searched the landlord's documents and found his home address.
According to the newspaper reports, Huang then arrived at the landlord's home pretending that the landlord had sent him, entered the house, and severely injured the landlord's wife and son. Huang allegedly hurt himself in the attack and went to an emergency room, which happened to be in the same hospital where the victims were being treated. The hospital noted his appearance fits the description of the suspect and informed the police who just arrived at the hospital to investigate the case. Huang reportedly tried to escape but was arrested at the hospital gate.
The crime made the headlines on the Monday evening news in Taiwan, but the reports had not yet linked him to manga or anime. However, the headline of all four major Taiwanese newspapers on Tuesday morning reported that the suspect had claimed he "tried to pass his misfortune to others via killing" and "mimicking a Japanese manga." While the Apple Daily, United Daily News, and China Times newspapers had not specified the title of the manga, the Liberty Times newspaper and the news website NOWnews quoted the preliminary interrogation by the Shilin Police District that the manga Huang mimicked was GUNNM. (Apple Daily and United Daily News inquired with manga publishers and critics about the reported manga connection; both sources replied that no known manga had a similar story line and speculated that the suspect was trying to divert the attention.)
Tong Li Publishing, the Taiwanese licensee of the GUNNM manga, released an official statement on Tuesday. Tong Li offered its condolences to victims as well as stated that it mobilized its staff to fine-comb through GUNNM from start to finish and made sure it had no such plot or any hidden message to promote criminal acts.
Thank you to dormcat for the news.
Image © Apple Daily
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