Two kung fu coaches in China were handed death sentences on Monday for a 1997 poisoning that resulted in the death of seven children at a martial arts school in Anhui Province. Fu Zejie and Zhu Zulin evaded prosecution for nearly 26 years after planting rat poison in the school's food due to a business conflict with its boss. The court revealed that a dispute between Zhu and another man named Peng, who ran competing martial arts schools in the area, led to their desire for revenge. Fu, who started coaching at Peng's facility in 1996, also became dissatisfied with Peng due to trivial matters.

Their dissatisfaction led to a plan to retaliate by pouring two packets of rat poison into the food at Peng's school on June 29, 1997. The poisoning resulted in more than 130 people experiencing vomiting and convulsions after consuming their breakfast, leading to the deaths of seven students. Although the two culprits were identified as suspects, they successfully evaded arrest until May 2023 when authorities finally apprehended Fu in Fujian Province and Zhu in Guizhou Province. The Intermediate People's Court in the city of Ma'anshan sentenced Fu and Zhu to death for the crime of poisoning, marking the end of a nearly 26-year ordeal for the families of the victims. This case serves as a reminder that justice may be delayed, but it will eventually be served.