Lin Senhao, a graduate student at Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University, was accused of murdering his roommate Huang Yang by poisoning him with N-nitrosodimethylamine that he mixed into the water fountain at the dormitory, later claiming it was only supposed to be a prank.
[1][2] This case was debated in Chinese jurisprudential circles and was a popular topic at the time of the trial, with regards to whether the accused had simply intended to injure the victim or planned to kill him.
[3] On March 29, 2013, Lin heard that Huang Yang and his classmates wanted to play April Fools' Day pranks on their fellow students.
2 Intermediate People's Court, Lin Senhao testified that 8 months earlier on March 31, 2013, he asked his classmate Lü Peng for N-nitrosodimethylamine, explaining he needed it for an experiment.
[4] Prosecutors accused Lin of infusing at least 30 ml of N-nitrosodimethylamine into the dormitory water dispenser, more than 10 times the lethal dose for humans.
[5] On the afternoon of March 31, Lin borrowed the key from another person and accessed 204 imaging medical laboratory, building 11 of Zhongshan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University.
Lin located and stole the reagent bottle containing N-nitrosodimethylamine, as well as several syringes which had previously been used to conduct animal testing with the compound, sneaking them out of the laboratory by placing them into a yellow waste bag.
Defenders had no objection to the indictment, but put forward that Lin had committed indirect intentional homicide, and had confessed guilt, so he should be given a lighter punishment in accordance with the law.
The second-instance court did not accept the defendant's contention, and said that although Lin confessed the guilt after arrest, his means of killing were cruel and the consequences were serious.
On December 9, the result of the review was released – the Supreme People's Court approved Lin Senhao's death penalty verdict.
[7] According to defence lawyer Xie Tongxiang, the chief justice agreed to meet the defendant's father, Lin Zunyao, on July 28, 2015.