"Due to his strong will to die, finally I agreed his request, because I couldn't bear to see that he continued to suffer the torture," Zhong said.

At about 3 pm on Oct. 19, Zeng jumped into a pit he dug in advance in a forest next to the village and laid down after swallowing the poison he had purchased. Ten minutes later, after calling to his friend several times and receiving no reply, Zhong shoveled soil into the pit and buried Zeng.

Chinese law has not yet legitimized the practice of euthanasia. According to Judge Li Guangjun, who spoke with Guangzhou Daily, Zhong's actions are prohibited no matter what his purpose was.

At present, the case is still under investigation.