Thread: Chinese scientist accused of toxic waste attack on immigrati

Chinese scientist accused of toxic waste attack on immigration hold


Alleged UCSF poisoner freed from jail while lab tests continue

Steve Rubenstein, Chronicle Staff Writer

(11-25) 12:36 PST SAN FRANCISCO -- A judge ordered the release from jail today of a UCSF lab researcher accused of trying to poison a co-worker, saying laboratory tests on a cup allegedly tainted with a harmful chemical had not been completed on time.

Ben Chun Liu, 38, who works in the urology department, was ordered freed on his own recognizance while awaiting trial for attempted murder. Liu, a Chinese citizen who appeared in San Francisco Superior Court in handcuffs, had also been in custody on an immigration hold.

Liu is accused of trying to poison co-worker Mei Cao, 44, by putting a laboratory chemical, ethidium bromide, into a cup near her work station.

Police said Liu told them he had been "stressed" but provided no motive. The two were not in a romantic relationship, authorities said.

Liu's attorney, Bill Fazio, said Liu had "no intent to harm" Cao and did not know in whose cup he had placed the chemical when he left it in a common area where lab workers meet for lunch.

Of his client's actions, Fazio said that "certain things make no sense to anybody."

Judge Kathleen Kelly ordered Liu to surrender his passport, to stay away from Cao and from UCSF and to return to court Dec. 18 for a hearing.

E-mail Steve Rubenstein at srubenstein@sfchronicle.com.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 14C3FL.DTL

ethidium bromide is some really bad stuff! Talk about a sneaky way to try and kill someone. This is horrible.

ethidium bromide on wiki
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethidium_bromide

W

Judge Kathleen Kelly ordered Liu to surrender his passport, to stay away from Cao and from UCSF and to return to court Dec. 18 for a hearing.

What are the odds that he won't show up for the hearing?

I would say the odds are pretty good!!