American man kills himself in Taiwan courtroom after sentencing on drug charges

An American man fatally stabbed himself in a Taiwan courtroom Thursday after being sentenced to four years in jail for drug possession.

The Taipei Times reported that 41-year-old Tyrel Martin Marhanka smuggled a pair of 8-inch scissors into the courtroom, which he separated into two blades.

Witnesses told the paper that after a translator informed Marhanka of the sentence, he shouted "Four years?" The translator informed Marhanka that he could appeal the decision, to which he responded, "I don't want to appeal. I don't want to live anymore", before stabbing himself.

Marhanka had been arrested in April of 2015 after police found more than 200 cannabis plants, 195 dried cannabis plants, and 10 opium poppies. At the time of his arrest, he told officers that he was growing the plants for his personal use.

The Taipei Times reported that Marhanka had lived in Taiwan for more than 15 years, was married to a Taiwanese woman and had two children.