Story perspectives

China Overturns Death Sentence for Canadian Drug Smuggler

2/7/2026

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Summary

Story summary

China's Supreme People’s Court overturned the death sentence of Canadian citizen Robert Schellenberg, who was convicted of drug smuggling.
This decision represents a significant shift in a case that has impacted China-Canada relations.
Schellenberg was originally sentenced to 15 years in prison but received the death penalty after a retrial in 2019, following the arrest of Chinese executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada.
A Canadian official confirmed the court's decision, and Canada's Global Affairs Ministry pledged ongoing support for Schellenberg and his family.
The case will be retried, but a new death penalty is considered unlikely.

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Story summary

China's Supreme People’s Court overturned the death sentence of Canadian citizen Robert Schellenberg, who was convicted of drug smuggling.
This decision represents a significant shift in a case that has impacted China-Canada relations.
Schellenberg was originally sentenced to 15 years in prison but received the death penalty after a retrial in 2019, following the arrest of Chinese executive Meng Wanzhou in Canada.
A Canadian official confirmed the court's decision, and Canada's Global Affairs Ministry pledged ongoing support for Schellenberg and his family.
The case will be retried, but a new death penalty is considered unlikely.