Story perspectives

Engineer David Xu Seeks Dismissal of Cadmium Poisoning Conviction

By Drooid · Oct 13, 2026, 3:19 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Former Berkeley engineer David Xu has asked a judge to dismiss his felony poisoning conviction.
Rong Yuan released hidden-camera video showing Xu pouring a substance into her water bottle.
The bottle tested positive for cadmium at levels up to 3.5 million times the federal limit.
District Attorney Pamela Price’s 2023 plea deal is being challenged as the district attorney office objects to Xu’s expungement request.

History

Historical Context

The 1978 Love Canal disaster in Niagara Falls, New York, forced the evacuation of thousands after hazardous waste leached into homes. The Environmental Protection Agency, under President Jimmy Carter, allocated $100 million for cleanup, and 21,000 residents were relocated. Similarly, Berkeley engineer David Xu faces felony charges after hidden-camera footage showed cadmium-laden liquid poured into Rong Yuan’s bottle, prompting a contested 2023 plea deal. The precedent of large-scale toxic exposure lawsuits suggests Xu’s expungement request could reshape California’s prosecutorial handling of chemical poisoning cases.

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Story summary

Former Berkeley engineer David Xu has asked a judge to dismiss his felony poisoning conviction.
Rong Yuan released hidden-camera video showing Xu pouring a substance into her water bottle.
The bottle tested positive for cadmium at levels up to 3.5 million times the federal limit.
District Attorney Pamela Price’s 2023 plea deal is being challenged as the district attorney office objects to Xu’s expungement request.

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