Perpetrator in Xiangtan University dormitory poisoning case executed

Zhou Liren, the perpetrator of a high-profile intentional homicide case in Xiangtan, Hunan province, was executed on Friday, local authorities confirmed.

Zhou, a postgraduate student at Xiangtan University, was sentenced to death by the Xiangtan Intermediate People's Court on April 7 for poisoning his roommates' food, resulting in the death of one. He was also deprived of political rights for life.

The first-instance trial revealed that Zhou enrolled at the university in 2022 and began sharing a dormitory with the victims in June 2023. Over time, he developed resentment toward his roommates due to disputes. Utilizing his academic knowledge of colchicine, and after downloading multiple documents related to the substance, Zhou purchased the toxic substance online in January 2024 and concealed it in his dormitory wardrobe.

Tensions between Zhou and his roommates escalated, leading to several heated arguments in March and April 2024. On April 3, after learning that his two roommates had requested his transfer from the dormitory, Zhou mixed colchicine powder into canned oatmeal shared by the roommates.

One of the roommates, Zhang, consumed the oatmeal on April 7, 2024, subsequently experiencing vomiting and other severe symptoms. Despite emergency medical treatment, Zhang died six days later from multiple organ failure caused by acute colchicine poisoning. Zhou was arrested on April 17 that year.

On April 7 this year, the Xiangtan Intermediate People's Court concluded that Zhou's actions constituted intentional homicide. The court noted that Zhou had misused his professional expertise to poison his roommates, attempted to conceal his actions during Zhang's medical treatment, and attempted to destroy key evidence afterward.

Under the Chinese law, death sentences issued by lower courts must be reviewed and approved by the top court before executions are implemented. Zhou was executed after his death sentence had been approved by China's top court.