Fudan poisoning case

The Fudan poisoning case was a criminal case in Shanghai, China, involving two graduate students at the medical school of Fudan University. Lin Senhao moved into dormitory room 421 in August 2010, and Huang Yang became his roommate a year later. Over time, Lin developed resentment toward Huang over minor disagreements. On March 29, 2013, after learning that Huang and classmates planned April Fools' Day pranks, Lin later stated he decided to make Huang sick as a prank, though the Supreme People's Court found he had decided to use poison to harm his roommate following a grudge.

On March 31, 2013, Lin obtained access to a laboratory at Zhongshan Hospital, affiliated with Fudan University, using a borrowed key, and stole a reagent bottle containing N-nitrosodimethylamine along with syringes previously used in animal testing, concealing them in a waste bag. Prosecutors later accused Lin of infusing at least 30 ml of the chemical—more than ten times a lethal dose for humans—into the water dispenser in dormitory room 421.

On April 11, 2013, Shanghai police began investigating after Huang fell ill. Early on April 12, 2013, after being summoned by police, Lin confessed to putting the chemical in the water dispenser and was detained the same day. Huang Yang died on April 16, 2013, after resuscitation attempts failed; forensic examination attributed his death to acute liver necrosis and multiple organ failure caused by N-nitrosodimethylamine poisoning. Lin was formally arrested later that month, and the Shanghai No. 2 Intermediate People's Court received the prosecution's case on October 30, 2013, charging Lin with intentional homicide by poison.

At a public hearing on November 27, 2013, prosecutors argued Lin's actions were cruel and caused heavy social harm, while the defense contended Lin had only intended to prank Huang and had no intent to kill, though defense counsel did not contest the indictment itself and argued for leniency based on Lin's confession. On February 18, 2014, the court sentenced Lin to death for intentional homicide, denying him political rights for life. Lin's appeal was rejected by the Shanghai High People's Court on January 8, 2015, which reaffirmed the death sentence, describing the killing method as cruel and its consequences serious.

The case proceeded to Supreme People's Court review, as required for death sentences. On May 26, 2015, the Court heard the defense's argument that the sentence was too severe and ordered further review. On July 28, 2015, the chief justice reportedly met with Lin's father, Lin Zunyao, in an unusual session described by defense lawyer Xie Tongxiang as unprecedented. On December 9, 2015, the Supreme People's Court approved the death penalty verdict. Lin Zunyao was notified on December 10, 2015, and instructed to visit his son before the execution. Lin Senhao was executed by lethal injection on December 11, 2015. The case attracted significant public and legal debate in China regarding whether Lin's actions constituted intent to kill or merely intent to injure.