A court in the city of Ma’anshan, China, sentenced two kung fu coaches to death on Monday for their involvement in a 1997 poisoning that resulted in the deaths of seven children. The coaches, Fu Zejie and Zhu Zulin, planted rat poison in the food at a martial arts school in Anhui Province as a result of a business conflict with the school’s boss. The two men managed to evade prosecution for nearly 26 years before being arrested.
According to the court, a dispute arose in the mid-1990s between Zhu and another individual named Peng, who were running competing martial arts schools in the area. Fu joined Peng’s facility in 1996, but eventually became dissatisfied and conspired with Zhu to retaliate. On June 29, 1997, the two coaches poured rat poison into the food at Peng’s school, causing over 130 people to experience vomiting and convulsions the next morning. Tragically, seven students lost their lives as a result.
Authorities identified Fu and Zhu as suspects shortly after the poisoning incident, but they managed to evade arrest until May 2023. Fu was apprehended in Fujian Province, while Zhu was captured in Guizhou Province.
The court handed down death sentences to both defendants for the crime of poisoning. The shocking case serves as a reminder of the lengthy pursuit of justice and the tragic consequences of a personal conflict turned deadly.
In conclusion, the kung fu coaches’ sentencing for the poisoning of children in China highlights the enduring impact of unresolved conflicts and the pursuit of justice in the legal system. The tragic event serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of letting personal grievances escalate into dangerous and deadly actions.