An Orange County judge dismissed attempted murder charges against a dermatologist accused of poisoning her husband with drain cleaner, ruling that prosecutors withheld critical evidence from the jury during trial proceedings.

Prosecution Withheld Evidence From Defense

Yue Emily Yu faced attempted poisoning charges after her husband, Jack Chen, claimed she poured Drano into his lemon tea on multiple occasions in 2022. Chen set up surveillance cameras that allegedly captured three separate incidents of Yu pouring the toxic drain cleaner into containers in their kitchen. FBI testing confirmed drain cleaner was present in a drinking glass, and Chen reported developing two stomach ulcers, gastritis, and esophagitis after consuming beverages with a chemical taste.

The judge ruled Friday that the Orange County District Attorney’s Office denied the jury’s request to review evidence supporting Yu’s defense, creating a fundamentally flawed legal process. This represents the second dismissal in the case. Prosecutors previously dropped charges in January when a key witness failed to appear on the first trial day.

Defense Claims Ant Control, Not Murder Attempt

Defense attorney Scott Simmons argued Yu poured Drano in the kitchen at Chen’s suggestion to kill ants, not to harm him. The couple was navigating divorce proceedings when the alleged incidents occurred. Simmons emphasized Chen’s suspicious response to the supposed poisoning attempts, noting he called a divorce lawyer instead of emergency services. The defense also challenged Chen’s medical diagnoses, arguing his stomach conditions likely resulted from acid reflux rather than drain cleaner consumption.

Prosecutors Vow To Refile Charges

Despite the dismissal, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office announced plans to refile the case. A spokesperson told local media outlets the office believes in the evidence strength and stands by the professional conduct of prosecutors handling the matter. The district attorney’s office had previously replaced a 2023 indictment with new attempted poisoning charges before the latest trial proceedings. Defense attorneys stated they will immediately move to dismiss any refiled charges against Yu, seeking to allow her to rebuild her life after the prolonged legal battle.