Chinese Court revokes drunk driver's death sentence

Updated: 2009-09-08 15:42 (Xinhua)

CHENGDU: The Sichuan Provincial Higher People's Court sentenced a drink driver to life imprisonment on Tuesday, revoking an earlier court's death sentence.

The court announced the judgment after hearing the appeal of Sun Weiming, 30, against his death sentence in July for his involvement in a fatal accident because of drink driving handed down by the Intermediate People's Court of Chengdu, the regional capital.

Court revokes drunk driver's death sentence

Sun Weiming [Xinhua]

Unlicensed Sun was convicted of being drunk and speeding in Chengdu in December when he struck four other cars, killing four people and injuring another.

Sun was sentenced finally for the crime of "endangering public safety", the same as his first instance judgement. He is the first person in China having been sentenced on the charge following a road accident.

The Provincial Higher People's Court said it considered Sun could have predicted totally the serious consequences caused by his speeding and unlicensed and drink driving, although he had not been an intentional cause of the accident.

But the court said it also believed Sun had showed sincere regret for the crime and had made an all-out effort to compensate the victims' families, and his penitential behavior had been accepted by them.

Before the second trial started, Sun's family paid more than 1 million yuan (146,420 U.S. dollars) compensation to the victims' families.

Han Changjin, a family member of one of the victim, said after the trial result came out: "We believe in the law."

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-09/08/content_8668115.ht

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Drunk driver in China sentenced to death for "endangering public safety"

Judges and law enforcement officials have sent clear signals through recent court verdicts and proposed new regulations that drunk drivers can expect harsher punishment.


At the same time as an unlicensed drunk driver who killed four people and injured one last year in Sichuan province was handed a death sentence on Thursday, transport regulators in the city of Nanjing were proposing to permanently revoke drunk drivers' licenses if they cause traffic accidents.

Sun Weiming, a 30-year-old company executive in Chengdu, Sichuan province, was found guilty of endangering public safety and sentenced to death by the Chengdu Intermediate People's Court.

He is thought to be China's first drunk driver to be charged with "endangering public safety" and sentenced to death.

Sun drove his Buick into four oncoming sedans on Dec 14. Tests after the pile-up showed he had 135.8 milligrams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood. A person is considered a drunk driver at 80 milligrams.

Investigation revealed Sun had been driving without a license since May 2008.

The Chengdu Intermediate People's Court said he was convicted of "endangering public safety" instead of a "traffic offense" - a lesser charge that usually carries a three-year jail term - because he had been intentional in his behavior.

Sun said he planned to appeal to a higher court.

In the US the condemned man would have been charged with vehicular homicide.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2009-07/25/content_8471989.htm


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