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2mo ago

China’s Top Court Overturns Death Sentence for Canadian Robert Schellenberg

A retrial now looms in a case long entangled with strains in Canada–China relations.

(FILES) This handout photograph taken and released by the Intermediate Peoples' Court of Dalian on January 14, 2019 shows Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg (C) during his retrial on drug trafficking charges in the court in Dalian in China's northeast Liaoning province. - A Chinese court said on August 10, 2021 said it had rejected an appeal by Canadian Robert Lloyd Schellenberg who was sentenced to death on drug smuggling charges in a case that has drawn condemnation from Canada. (Photo by HANDOUT / Intermediate Peoples' Court of Dalian / AFP) / -----EDITORS NOTE --- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Intermediate Peoples' Court of Dalian" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/Intermediate Peoples' Court of D/AFP via Getty Images)
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Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney and China's President Xi Jinping
Robert Schellenberg, seen here in an undated handout photo

Overview

  • China’s Supreme People’s Court set aside Schellenberg’s 2019 death sentence on Friday, Canadian officials said.
  • His lawyer says the court has ordered a new trial, with no date or details yet on whether proceedings will be public.
  • Global Affairs Canada says it is aware of the decision and will continue consular support, reiterating its clemency advocacy.
  • Schellenberg was arrested in 2014, received 15 years in 2018, then was condemned to death in a one-day 2019 retrial criticized by Amnesty International.
  • The reversal follows Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent Beijing visit during a broader effort to ease tensions and restart trade ties.