David Xu, a 34-year-old chemical engineer in California, has been arrested and charged for allegedly trying to kill his co-worker with poison. Court records identified the victim as Rong Yuan.
According to court records, Xu — a graduate of the University of California-Berkeley — was arrested by California authorities and charged with attempted murder after he allegedly poisoned his co-worker’s food and water with metal cadmium over the course of several years.
Xu, who was arrested and charged on Thursday, March 28, was a senior materials engineer at Berkeley Engineering And Research. Cadmium, a heavy metal, is also a known carcinogen.
The court records, which were first obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle, Xu’s female co-worker experienced “serious” health problems after consuming the cadmium-tainted food and water.
Additionally, the court records indicate that after the co-worker gave her water bottle to two of her relatives, they also fell seriously ill.
Furthermore, a review of security camera footage showed Xu adding the poisonous chemical to Yuan’s water bottle.
Julia Jayne, a defense attorney for Xu, characterized the charges as “only allegations.”
“These are allegations, only allegations. Charges have been filed, and I think all of you and the public knows that when charges are brought, an individual, per our constitutional system, is presumed innocent, and that’s exactly how I intend to proceed with this case,” Jayne said to reporters.
At this time, Xu is being held without bond and was scheduled to make an appearance in court for a plea hearing on Thursday, April 4.
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