Student who poisoned roommate faces second trial

Lin Senhao, a former university student who killed his roommate with poison, has been reading classic literature to calm himself before his second trial, set to begin at 10 am on Monday, one of his lawyers said.

Lin, 28, was a postgraduate student at Fudan University's School of Medicine in Shanghai. In February, he was sentenced to death after being convicted of intentionally killing his roommate, Huang Yang, by putting a toxic chemical in their water dispenser because of his animosity toward Huang.

Lin's family appealed the verdict and sought a second trial.

On Thursday, Lin met with his lawyers Si Weijiang and Tang Zhijian, and Tang said Lin was trying to calm himself before the trial, Shanghai news website xinmin.cn reported on Sunday.

Lin Zunyao, Lin's father, arrived in Shanghai on Thursday from their home in Shantou, Guangdong province, hoping to deliver warm clothes for his son, who is detained at the Shanghai No 3 Detention Center.

The father's request to see his son was rejected, so he asked the lawyers to deliver the clothes and pass a message to his son: Be honest and tell the truth.

Lin Senhao told Tang that he has been trying to calm himself for the second trial and that he doesn't dare think much about the future.

Tang said Lin was calm at the meeting with the lawyers and that his physical and mental health appeared normal. Lin has developed the habit of reading books since he was detained in April 2013, Tang said, and has recently been reading Resurrection, by Leo Tolstoy.

Tang told xinmin.cn that Lin is extremely regretful for the death of Huang, and feels sorry for both Huang and himself.

In previous written interviews, Lin has said what he regrets most is his bad habits that led him to poison Huang and his cowardice, which prevented him from taking responsibility and eventually resulted in Huang's death.

"I have been saying 'I'm sorry' even in my dreams," Lin said in those interviews.