Chinese authorities have executed Xu Yao, a former executive convicted of poisoning Lin Qi, the billionaire founder of Yoozoo Games, over a professional dispute. Lin, who held the film adaptation rights for the sci-fi trilogy The Three-Body Problem, died in December 2020 after ingesting toxins disguised as probiotic pills, coffee capsules, and whiskey bottles. Xu, who had helped secure a Netflix deal for the franchise, was sidelined by Lin shortly afterward.
Key Facts & Developments
- Execution Confirmed: Xu was executed on May 21, as reported by local media and confirmed by Lin’s company via Weibo. The Shanghai High People’s Court has not yet commented.
- Motive & Method: Xu allegedly spent hundreds of thousands of yuan purchasing alpha-amanitin, a lethal compound found in poisonous mushrooms, to target Lin and other employees.
Background & Context
- The Three-Body Problem: The sci-fi trilogy, written by Liu Cixin, has been translated into over 40 languages and adapted into Netflix’s 2024 series 3 Body Problem. Yoozoo Games, Lin’s company, holds the rights to the franchise.
- Legal Process: Xu was convicted in 2024 after a trial that detailed his meticulous poisoning scheme. Lin’s company expressed gratitude for the execution, calling it a resolution of justice.
- Unanswered Questions: The Shanghai High People’s Court and Yoozoo Games have not provided further comment on the case.