MA’ANSHAN, China – Two kung fu coaches in China have been sentenced to death for their involvement in a 1997 poisoning that resulted in the deaths of seven children. The poisoning took place at a martial arts school in Anhui Province, following a business conflict with the school’s boss, and the culprits managed to evade prosecution for nearly 26 years.
The defendants, Fu Zejie and Zhu Zulin, were convicted and given the death penalty for poisoning by the Intermediate People’s Court in Ma’anshan. According to the court’s statement, the dispute began in 1994 when Zhu and another man, surnamed Peng, were running competing martial arts schools in the area. Fu later joined Peng’s facility in 1996 and developed dissatisfaction with Peng over trivial matters, leading to a conspiracy to retaliate by poisoning the food at Peng’s school in 1997.
The poisoning incident resulted in over 130 people experiencing vomiting and convulsions, with seven students succumbing to the poison. Despite being identified as suspects at the time, Fu and Zhu managed to evade arrest until May 2023, when they were apprehended in separate provinces.
The sentencing of the kung fu coaches to death for their role in the poisoning incident serves as a tragic reminder of the long-lasting impact of their actions on the victims and their families. This case also underscores the persistence and dedication of law enforcement in bringing perpetrators of heinous crimes to justice, regardless of how much time has passed. The tragic consequences of their actions have now led to the most severe punishment under the law for the two defendants.
In summary, the two kung fu coaches in China have been sentenced to death for their involvement in a 1997 poisoning incident that resulted in the deaths of seven children. The poisoning was carried out as retaliation due to a business conflict with the boss of a martial arts school, and the perpetrators managed to evade arrest for nearly 26 years before finally facing justice. This case highlights the enduring impact of the crime on the victims and their families, as well as the commitment of law enforcement to hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.