China Scene: West

Magician's deadly trick ends with prison term

A magician in Pengshui county, Chongqing municipality, will have 18 months in prison to ponder his next magic trick. During a performance, he killed a man with medicinal-based liquor that was meant only for external use.

In August 2008, Liu Weiping, 39, the magician, was invited by a farmer in Guzhen village in the county to perform at a funeral. During his performance, he poured some liquor into an empty cup then he asked a villager named Hu Xunlong, 79, to taste it. Hu died 30 minutes after taking the liquor.