BC judge warned Canadian sentenced to death in China

Robert Lloyd Schellenberg, who faces the death penalty in China for drug smuggling, was warned by a British Columbia judge in 2012 "don’t ever underestimate the seriousness of this kind of an offense" when he sentenced him to two years in jail in 2012 for drug trafficking.

"Your country deserves much better from you. You are in one of the best places in the world to live," Justice Neill Brown said as he sentenced him. ``I hope this is the last time you appear in court."

Brown sentenced Schellenberg for possession of cocaine and heroin for the purpose of trafficking as well as simple possession of cannabis resin and methamphetamine. Because of time served, his ultimate sentence was 16 months and 12 days.

The 36-year-old was sentenced to death Monday in the Dalian People's Court in China's northeast province of Liaoning. The ruling came after a sudden retrial of a 15-year sentence for allegedly conspiring with others to smuggle drugs.

Schellenberg’s criminal record dates back to February 2003, when he received a six-month sentence for possession for the purpose of trafficking.