China Executes Teacher for Poisoning Children with Sodium Nitrate

Chinese media reported today, Friday, that "a teacher for children was executed in central China this week after killing one child and injuring 24 others by poisoning their food with sodium nitrate four years ago." The teacher, Wang Yun (39 years old), had appealed the ruling made by a court in Henan province in September 2020, but to no avail. Media outlets cited a statement from the court stating that "the judicial body confirmed Wang's identity yesterday, Thursday, and escorted her to the execution site where the sentence was carried out." In March 2019, Wang purchased a quantity of sodium nitrate following a dispute with a colleague. The court ruling noted that the next morning, Wang added the sodium nitrate to the children's food, according to media reports. A child died in January 2020 due to multiple organ failure caused by the poison. Media reports indicated that 24 other children suffered mild symptoms. Wang's case is one of several prominent cases of murder and violence that have occurred in China in recent years.