Robert Lloyd Schellenberg: Canadian sentenced to death in China
Revision of sentence appears to be retaliation for arrest of Huawei official
The Dalian People’s Court in China’s northeast province of Liaoning has sentenced a Canadian man who was convicted of drug trafficking to death.
Robert Lloyd Schellenberg had originally been sentenced to 15 years in prison in November last year, after he was arrested in 2014 and accused of plotting to smuggle 222kg of methamphetamine from China to Australia.
However his sentence was unexpectedly reviewed after Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of the Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, at the request of the United States.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“It is of extreme concern to us as a government – as it should be to all our international friends and allies – that China has chosen to begin to arbitrarily apply a death penalty,” Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau said.
The revision of Schellenberg’s sentence is likely to further inflame relations between China and Canada, as two other Canadians are currently being detained in China on national security charges.
“It is a horrific, unfortunate, heartbreaking situation,” Schellenberg’s aunt, Lauri Nelson-Jones, told the BBC. “It is our worst case fear confirmed. It is rather unimaginable what he must be feeling and thinking.”
The Washington Post reports that China took the “rare step of inviting foreign media to attend [Schellenberg’s] appeal hearing” earlier this month, with some observers suggesting that Beijing was attempting to use his case to put pressure on Canada to release Meng.
Schellenberg has 10 days to file an appeal against the revised sentence, a move his lawyer has told media they will likely pursue.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Good riddance to the televised presidential debate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Caitlin Clark the No. 1 pick in bullish WNBA Draft
Speed Read As expected, she went to the Indiana Fever
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 16, 2024
Cartoons Tuesday's cartoons - sleepyhead, little people, and more
By The Week US Published
-
'Angel' visits woman before lottery win
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Doomsday group offers 'epic' survival opportunity
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Gaza hospital blast: What the video evidence shows about who's to blame
Speed Read Nobody wants to take responsibility for the deadly explosion in the courtyard of Gaza's al-Ahli Hospital. Roll the tape.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Giraffe poo seized after woman wanted to use it to make a necklace
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Helicopter sound arouses crocodiles
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Woman sues Disney over 'injurious wedgie'
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Emotional support alligator turned away from baseball stadium
Tall Tales And other stories from the stranger side of life
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published