'He Tried To Kill Her': Berkeley Engineer Releases Video Of Co-Worker Poisoning Her Water With Cadmium After Accused Seeks To Erase Felony Conviction
A California man convicted of poisoning his former colleague with cadmium is seeking to have his felony conviction dismissed after completing probation, reigniting concerns over the consequences he faced for the crime. David Xu, 41, is scheduled to appear before an Alameda County Superior Court judge to seek the dismissal, commonly known as expungement. Although the district attorney’s office has…
David Xu, a 41-year-old Berkeley engineer, is seeking to have his felony conviction dismissed after completing his probation for allegedly poisoning his former colleague with cadmium. Xu faces allegations of poisoning Rong Yuan, a fellow metallurgist, with cadmium over a period of 18 months between 2017 and 2019. Surveillance footage released by Yuan shows Xu approaching her desk and reaching towards her water bottle, as well as pouring a substance into it.
Yuan's health began deteriorating shortly after she started working with Xu, experiencing symptoms such as dry heaving, hair loss, and severe illness. Police found cadmium in Yuan's blood and water samples, leading to Xu's arrest in March 2019. Xu pleaded guilty to poisoning in September 2023, receiving a one-year felony probation and credit for time served.
However, some critics, including former district attorney Pamela Price, argue that the sentence was too lenient. Yuan has published research detailing the long-term health consequences of cadmium poisoning, hoping to raise awareness and help doctors recognize the condition earlier.
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