Thursday, October 17, 2002

DEATH FROM AROUND THE GLOBE
Dateline: China


Nanjing snack poisoner executed

BEIJING - A snack-shop owner who confessed to killing dozens of people by poisoning food at a rival's store in eastern China was executed yesterday.

Chen Zhenping, who was arrested a month ago, was put to death after the Higher People's Court of Jiangsu province upheld a previous death sentence meted out late last month.

'The facts are clear, the evidence is reliable and ample, and the punishment is suitable,' the court said, confirming the original sentence by the Nanjing Intermediate People's Court.

Chen was put to death with a bullet to the back of the head.