Editor's Note:

Are you up on what the hundreds of millions of Chinese netizens are talking about? Take a moment and get the rundown of what's hot, what's trending, and what's drawing the most buzz on the Chinese blogosphere.

Dad of poisoned student decries plea for leniency

The father of a medical student who was allegedly murdered by his roommate spoke out against a petition from classmates of the accused that pleads the courts for mercy.

The letter, signed by 177 students at Fudan University in late March, petitions the Shanghai High People's Court to overturn the death sentence handed to Lin Senhao in February, reported the Beijing Times on Thursday

"Even though we think the crime he committed is unforgivable and he should be punished, Lin did some good things at our school and is not a vicious person. We hope the court gives him a chance to turn a new leaf. We are willing to take care of Huang Yang's  parents," read the letter.

Lin is accused of poisoning roommate Huang's water in March 2013. He appealed the verdict soon after.

Father Huang Guoqiang called the letter a ploy by Lin's counsel to gain sympathy ahead of the appeals trial.

"If [Lin] is not vicious, then why did he put so much of that chemical in [Huang Yang's] water? Why did he not stop my son from drinking it? Why did he not tell a doctor about the poison as my son suffered on a hospital bed?" said the father.

The report has been forwarded more than 5,000 times, with many Net users saying that the letter is unfair and Lin should be severely punished for his crime. Some have taken a moderate stance saying that parents on both sides are the biggest victims.


Newspaper headline: Momento f Neti-zen: Dad of poisoned student decries plea for leniency