Suspect responsible for funeral dinner mass poisoning detained
( 2003-10-24 15:51) (Xinhua)
Chen Xiaomei, the widow of dead farmer Zhu Datian from Lichuan City of
central China's Hubei Province, was detained by the police for planning a mass
poisoning at a funeral banquet in honor of her husband on Tuesday.
According to local police, Chen is supported by her second son Zhu Famin,
while her husband, Zhu Datian lived with the eldest son Zhu Fabin. Families of
the two sons had long been at feud about issues such as division of property and
support of their parents.
Chen was said to often quarrel bitterly with the eldest daughter-in-law in
daily life.
The mass poisoning with a banned rat poison known as Dushuqiang killed 10
people and sickened 23 others after they all ate at the home of Zhu Fabin at
noon on Tuesday.
In most rural areas in China, fellow villagers will attend funerals as
helpers and the host will feed them during the day.
The sickened villagers are all hospitalized, said local sources.
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