Postgraduate student sentenced to death for poisoning roommates

Zhou Liren, a postgraduate student at Xiangtan University in Hunan province, was sentenced to death and life-long deprivation of political rights on Monday for poisoning his two roommates' food, killing one of them, according to the Xiangtan Intermediate People's Court.

According to the court, Zhou and his two roommates — surnamed Zhang and Zhou — were all postgraduate students admitted in 2022. After moving into the same dormitory in June 2023, Zhou frequently clashed with them over minor issues, fueling growing resentment.

In January 2024, Zhou researched colchicine, a toxic compound, online and downloaded related materials. He later purchased the substance and hid it in his dormitory wardrobe.

Tensions between Zhou and his roommates worsened between March and April 2024, culminating in several heated arguments. On April 3, after learning that the victims had requested a dorm reassignment for him, Zhou laced a shared can of oatmeal with colchicine powder.

Zhang fell violently ill after consuming the contaminated oatmeal on April 7 and died six days later despite medical intervention. An autopsy confirmed that the cause of death was acute colchicine poisoning, which led to multiple organ failure.

Zhou was arrested on April 17. Investigators later discovered that he had studied colchicine during his undergraduate coursework.

According to the court, Zhou, motivated by personal animosity, had weaponized his specialized knowledge to deliberately poison his roommates. During Zhang's treatment, Zhou intentionally withheld crucial information, delayed rescue efforts and attempted to hide and destroy key evidence—actions that contributed to Zhang's death.

Given the extreme malice, severity of the crime and devastating consequences, the court sentenced Zhou to death.