American kills himself in Taiwan court upon drug conviction

As reported by the Global Post, witnesses said Marhanka then yelled, “I don’t want to live anymore”, before attempting suicide by raising the two halves of the pair of scissors in each hand and stabbing himself in the neck, severing at least one artery.

The translator told Marhanka that he could appeal the decision, but he replied: “I don’t want to appeal”.

After the incident, the Taiwan court made a statement, reading: “We deeply regret that Tyrel Martin Marhanka killed himself during the sentencing”.

He had been convicted of growing marijuana at his home in Changhua, in central Taiwan, and of importing marijuana and opium poppy seeds.

The deceased reportedly concealed the suicide weapon in a magazine, which evaded the metal detector door.

After slashing himself, Marhanka was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead.

It is thought that he smuggled the eight inch scissors – separated into two blades – past court officials.

The statement also reads that “He was cooperative during the investigation and the trial”. The American had been teaching English and was living in Changhua with his Taiwanese wife and two children.

Marhanka had told police officers at his arrest last year that he grew the plants as a hobby, and the court had lightened his sentence down from the maximum of seven years because he had not sold any of the drugs, according to The New York Times.

Apart from that, the court officials added that for the further security measures, the authorities planned to install well-equipped security measurement and to introduce X-ray machine to scan people before entering the courtroom, as said by the officials. The court’s current facility, told security personnel, lacked adequate space for the equipment.