China’s highest court has overturned the death penalty for Canadian national Robert Schellenberg, who was convicted of drug smuggling, according to a Canadian official speaking to CBC News. The Supreme People’s Court invalidated the initial sentence on Friday, as reported first by The New York Times. Schellenberg was initially given a 15-year prison term in 2018 for his involvement in an international drug-trafficking operation.
However, in 2019, after the detention of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou by Canadian authorities on a U.S. warrant, Schellenberg was retried and sentenced to death. Despite Schellenberg’s appeal of the death sentence being rejected by a Chinese court in Shenyang in 2021, there is now hope for a favorable outcome following the recent development, as stated by Anna Marie White on behalf of Schellenberg’s family.
Global Affairs Canada’s spokesperson acknowledged being aware of the latest decision regarding Schellenberg’s case but refrained from providing further details. The Canadian government has been advocating for clemency in his case, consistent with their stance on Canadians facing death sentences.
The arrest of Meng strained Canada-China relations, resulting in the subsequent detention of Canadians Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor on uncertain national security charges, although both were released in 2021. Additionally, four Canadians were executed in China last year on drug-related offenses.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent visit to China aimed to mend ties with Beijing, culminating in an agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping to eliminate certain trade barriers. Schellenberg, who allegedly conspired to smuggle a large quantity of methamphetamine from China to Australia in 2014, has denied the accusations, despite a previous drug trafficking conviction in Canada in 2012.
