Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Henry Lee, Shaman

The ongoing comedy of the Sean Lien case (when Lien Chan's son was accidentally shot by a gangbanger on election eve last month) has reached the next level this week as Henry Lee, the World's Greatest Forensic Scientist With Taiwan Roots, was brought in to settle the question. What question that might be, we don't know....

The US-based Lee, who was in Taiwan yesterday to attend the establishment of the “Henry Lee Forensic Science Lecture Workshop” at National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, told reporters he had discussed Lien’s case with the Criminal Investigation Bureau, especially regarding the German-made pistol believed to have been used in the shooting.

Lee said he would look at the forensics and material evidence, but would not involve himself in the criminal and political aspects of the case.

“I only want to do forensic work on this case; other investigation activities relating to the case are of no interest to me,” he said. “Criminal investigations should not be mixed with forensic work.”

It would not be the first time Lee has assisted investigators in high-profile criminal cases. He helped forensics experts in their probe of the March 2004 election-eve assassination attempt on former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮).

Judicial authorities have been under pressure to resolve the Lien case, in which Huang Yun-sheng (黃運聖), a 29-year-old bystander, was killed.

....."resolve the case"?? What is there to resolve? The shooter was caught, confessed, the motive is known and is reasonable and makes sense. There isn't any conspiracy here.

The sad part is that all the yammering on the pan-Green talk shows about Sean Lien this and Sean Lien that with its HINT HINT CONSPIRACY flavor has raised his profile beyond all reasonable levels. It's almost as if there is some pre-scientific mindset at work in which the phrase shit happens has no meaning and all events have secret, inimical causes that can be exposed with the proper application of ideology and sympathetic magic. Henry Lee's real role here is shamanic, not scientific.

But the beatification of Sean Lien (who should be thinking presidency at this point) is not even the worst of it. No, it seems like there was too much noise about Sean Lien, and not enough about gangsters and the KMT. A blown opportunity, methinks.
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17 comments:

Butsi said...

I'm one of those who believe in a conspiracy, I'm glad Lee is on the case.

Dixteel said...

I would say that the evidences and motives are questionable (I think there are evidences that do not seem to match up, and there is a real lack of transparency), but indeed I don't see the point of focusing on this case, especially in terms of political reasoning. Pan green gains nothing by keeping discussing this shooting. Effort should be focused on other issues.

Another thing is I don't think the media are bashing Sean Lien, but the police for the lack of transparency and pan blue members who exaggerated Sean's wound and accussing pan green during the night before the election. On that topic I think it is reasonable, because it is good to point out how irrational pan blue politicians are.

PS. I don't think Sean Lien will go for president. Not a lot of people like him (even in pan blue I think). And now his dad, Lien, got this stupid award from China,...that really limits their family's political career in my opinion.

Anonymous said...

No conspiracy ? this should be a joke ! where came the gun from ?

Michael Turton said...

Where did the gun come from? From someone who supplies guns! There's no wild top-down KMT conspiracy to swing the election here by shooting Sean Lien. It's just a local gangster thing.

Grant said...

Totally disappointed by the lack of attention on gangsters. Then again, this is Taiwan.

Anonymous said...

Argument for a right to bear arms:

If they take the guns away from the people, then only the KMT will have guns.

LOL

Anonymous said...

People who believes and thrives in a conspiracy culture will never believe whatever Lee says that is not in their favor.

They would however believe without question any thing that Tzehn Jung Jhi says :)

Devic

Frank said...

I don't think Sean Lien is in the running for the presidency quite yet. However, he might have a shot at being the next mayor of Taipei.

Anonymous said...

Guns are readily available in organized crime circles.

Dixteel said...

lol Even Homer Simpson can win Taipei election if he gets nominated by KMT.

Dixteel said...

Hmm...my impression is that there used to be a lot less guns in Taiwan. I think recently there are a lot more gun shoots going on. I wonder if there are statistics on this...

Anonymous said...

Hello....doesn't anyone remember that Henry Lee totally BOTCHED the OJ case?

And not just that case, just about every case he's worked on there have been questions on his methods.

How this guy can have any credibility is baffling. Just because he is pro-KMT and was an R.O.C. resident, they suck up to him.

P.S. no conspiracy on the Lien shooting. Get over it. Lets talk about the scumbag gangster ties to KMT politics instead.

les said...

@ Dixteel: Pan-green has a LOT to gain by keeping this subject alive, IF it focuses on the connection between KMT and gangs. Only this topic is worth pursuing. Sean Lien never has and never will amount to anything. Pan-green needs to refocus the discussion and stay on-message.

Roy Berman said...

The only forensics that I can see mattering are making sure that the bullet found was actually fired by that particular gun, and seeing if that gun is linked to any other past shootings, resolved or unresolved. But I expect that should be pedestrian work for any properly equipped police lab.

Anonymous said...

Days after days they never stop arguments and accusations. It's either the faults of KMT or China.

When can these brags grow up and see the other side of the coin.

Jolly Jully

Dixteel said...

Hmm...the police just had a media conference...and I think they really have a 此地無銀三百兩 attitude and not really sincere in proving the questionable parts of the case.

I think pan green should not focus on it, because there are more severe problems with where Ma and KMT is going. Keep discussing this case at this poiint in time is pointless. However, some people should keep a tap on this case as well.

Anonymous said...

KMT or the Police can just show the public the medical evidence/report about Sean Lien's injury, and we pan-green will shut our mouth