Society

US student convicted for HK taxi crash

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-10-28 15:43
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HONG KONG - An American university student has been convicted of manslaughter for causing the crash of a Hong Kong taxi and death of its driver before commandeering the vehicle and slamming it into another cab, a court official said Thursday.

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A seven-person jury on Wednesday found California State University, Chico student Kelsey Michael Mudd guilty of manslaughter, illegally taking over a vehicle, dangerous driving and drunk driving, said Sam Hui, an information officer for the Hong Kong judiciary.

The 23-year-old, who holds American, Australian and British citizenship, was scheduled to be sentenced later Thursday. Manslaughter carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment in Hong Kong.

Prosecutors said earlier that Mudd's alcohol level was three times the legal limit when the crash occurred on June 27 last year. Police said the taxi Mudd was traveling in jumped a road divider and collided with three oncoming cabs. The driver died in a hospital hours later.

Hong Kong media reported that Mudd was seen arguing with the driver before the crash.

After the first accident, Mudd took over the taxi and caused a second crash. Local TV news footage showed Mudd moving to the driver's seat as a paramedic tried to treat him. He then sped off in the taxi - heading in the wrong direction - and hit another cab head-on.

Mudd's lawyer, Christopher Young, didn't immediately return a call seeking comment Thursday.

In a message posted on his website last month, Mudd called the charges "unjust."

"I don't believe any crime has been committed," he said.

Mudd was born in Hong Kong and lived there until age 8, when he moved to Walnut Creek, California, according to his website. He was spending the summer volunteering at a Hong Kong charity when the accident occurred, the website said.