A Keelung court has convicted an elderly woman of scratching a man's car based mainly on a subtle change in how she swung her arm on security footage — bad news for anyone who assumes blurry video means no conviction.

• The car was parked in front of a temple square when a long scratch appeared along the driver's side doors.
• Security cameras never clearly captured the act, but she was the only person who walked past the car.
• The judge focused on her right arm suddenly shifting from a natural swing to a movement close to the car body, at the same height as the scratch.
• Her defense — poor eyesight, mistaking the car for a relative's, and scratches that predate the incident — did not convince the court.
• The sentence is 35 days' detention, convertible to a fine of NT$35,000, and the owner is also suing for damages.

Outlook: The verdict can still be appealed, and a separate civil claim for compensation is pending.