Canadian drug smuggler to appeal China death sentence

A Canadian man handed the death penalty for drug smuggling in China will appeal his sentence Thursday, in a case that has deepened the diplomatic rift between Beijing and Canada. The appeal comes against the backdrop of Beijing’s anger over the December arrest of Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive at Chinese tech giant Huawei, who faces a US extradition hearing in Canada on Wednesday.

Robert Lloyd Schellenberg was sentenced to death on drug trafficking charges in January. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounced the decision as “arbitrarily” chosen. Schellenberg ’s appeal will take place Thursday morning at the Dalian Intermediate People’s Court in northeastern Liaoning province, a source familiar with the case said.