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Middle-aged woman fed lover, 23, rat poison three times to stop him going home

Yan Chin-ping met Australian Alex Shorey while he studied a year-long Chinese language exchange programme at Tamkang University in Taipei, Taiwan

[Yang Chin-ping (in black) leaving Taipei District Court]

Yang Chin-ping (in black) leaving Taipei District Court(Image: CNA News)

A woman tried to murder her ex-boyfriend by secretly feeding him rat poison while he was critically ill in hospital. Australian student Alex Shorey, then 23, was rushed to hospital after suffering severe stomach pain, blood in his urine, diarrhoea and nosebleeds.

Doctors later discovered he had been poisoned with superwarfarin, a highly toxic rodenticide, on at least three occasions over several months in 2023. Prosecutors said the poison had been given to him by his then-girlfriend, Yan Chin-ping.

Yang, who is now in her 40s, was charged with attempted murder in December 2024. The Taipei District Court found her guilty of the offence last week, according to Taiwanese local media.

[Alex Shorey was lucky to survive]

Alex Shorey was lucky to survive(Image: Cover Images)

The former couple first met while Shorey, from Toowoomba, Queensland, was studying on a one-year Chinese language exchange programme at Tamkang University in Taipei.

The court heard that Chin-ping first poisoned Shorey by secretly adding the toxic substance to his grape juice in 2023, allegedly in an attempt to stop him from returning to Australia and ending their romance. Despite Shoreys worsening condition and obvious suffering, the court heard that Chin-ping continued to give him the toxic chemical.

She poisoned him for a second time after he was admitted to hospital, before a third poisoning took place after Shoreys father, Stephen, travelled to Taiwan to bring his son home for treatment.

[Alex was hospitalised]

Alex was hospitalised(Image: Cover Images)

The court heard Chin-ping also manipulated Shoreys father into signing a form declining his sons admission to intensive care. She also insisted on acting as the familys translator, rather than allowing hospital staff to communicate with them directly in English.

Despite this, Shorey's father successfully pushed for his son to remain in intensive care until a medical evacuation to Australia could be arranged.

While Shorey was still in hospital in a critical condition, Chin-ping poisoned him for a third time by mixing rat poison into his blood medication. Suspicion was later raised when Shoreys mother discovered an empty bottle of rat poison while searching through her sons belongings.

[Alex was transported back to Australia ]

Alex was transported back to Australia (Image: Cover Images)

A statement from the Taipei District Prosecutors Office said, Although Alex fortunately did not die, the suffering he endured in Taiwan was immense. He was at constant risk of massive bleeding from various parts of his body and could have died at any moment.

The defendants actions, methods and post-crime attitude were extremely malicious and there were no mitigating factors to show compassion.

At trial, Shorey and his parents returned to Taiwan to testify, while Chin-ping denied the charges. She claimed the rat poison was intended for herself, saying she had been struggling following the death of her late husband.

However, the court ruled that Chin-ping was fixated on keeping Shorey in Taiwan and found that she continued poisoning him despite his obvious declining health and suffering.

The court said the crime had been carefully planned and executed, adding that Chin-ping had shown no remorse. She was sentenced to 11 years and two months behind bars but will be able to appeal the sentence.

In 2023, Shoreys parents thanked supporters after a GoFundMe campaign raised more than 150,500 ($200,000) to fund his medical evacuation from Taiwan back to Australia.

Its been just under three months since Alex arrived back in Australia, and since that time our focus has been on his health and recovery from the traumatic situation that unfolded in Taiwan, they wrote in July 2023.

Wed like to express our immense gratitude again to all those who shared Alexs story, to those who generously donated to get him home, and to all those who sent good wishes, love and support to our family.

It is thanks to you that we were able to get Alex home safely. The kindness shown to us, and all the messages left on this page for Alex, helped more than you can imagine. We feel so blessed to have Alex home.

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