China sentences Canadian to death

A Canadian citizen in China has been sentenced to death after a court convicted him of drug smuggling on Monday. Chinese authorities announced that Robert Schellenberg was given a death sentence based on the nature of his crime and in accordance with the Chinese criminal code. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized the ruling, which comes as relations have strained between the two countries. According to the court, in November 2014, Schellenberg was orchestrating the smuggling of more than 222 kilograms (489.4 pounds) of methamphetamine from China to Australia. Schellenberg and an accomplice made an attempt to repackage the drugs before shipping them out in containers. After his accomplice turned himself in, Schellenberg fled but was arrested in December 2014. "I am not a drug smuggler. I came to China as a tourist," Schellenberg said Monday before the verdict was announced.” The court said Schellenberg is entitled to appeal his verdict within 10 days. He was first tried in 2016. Upon receiving a sentence of 15 years in prison, he appealed the verdict. A high court ordered a new trial in late December 2018 when the prosecution said they had uncovered new evidence to prove Schellenberg's principal role in the case. China severely punishes those caught smuggling or trafficking drugs, including foreigners. Anyone found with more than 50 grams (1.76 ounces) of a controlled substance can face the death penalty. China remains the world's top executor, according to international monitors, though the country does not publish detailed statistics.

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