Xia (or Xin) Xinfeng, from Maolou in the central Chinese province of Henan, has been sentenced to death for killing Mao Ansheng, her childhood sweetheart, with a kiss. They had sworn an oath that if either were unfaithful, they would have to die. Xia took action when she saw her man talking to a woman in a way that made her suspicious. They had arranged to meet the next day at a public bathhouse. She filled a plastic pellet with rat poison, hid it under her tongue, and while they were kissing, nudged it into his mouth. Failing to notice, Mao swallowed it and died shortly afterwards.

Rat poison is one of the commonest methods of murder and suicide in China. One variety, dushuqiang, was banned three years ago. A widow had used it to kill 10 guests, with whom she had been engaged in a feud, at her husband's funeral banquet.

[R] 26 Sept; D.Telegraph, 28 Sept 2007